Court invokes Lord Krishna's birth in bail order for pregnant accused in TCS case
A special court in Nashik granted bail to former TCS employee Nida Khan in the religious coercion case, citing her five-month pregnancy and the completion of the investigation.
A special court in Maharashtra's Nashik has granted bail to former Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) employee Nida Khan, who is accused in a workplace harassment and conversion case, observing that no woman should have to endure the trauma of giving birth in prison. Drawing a parallel with the birth of Lord Krishna in a prison, the court said such a situation would cause avoidable distress to both the mother and the newborn.
Khan, who is five months pregnant, was arrested nearly two months ago in connection with one of the cases linked to the alleged sexual exploitation and religious coercion of female employees at a TCS outsourcing unit in Nashik.
Granting her bail, Special Judge KG Joshi noted that Khan's pregnancy, coupled with the completion of the investigation, warranted judicial discretion in her favour.
"It is not disputed that applicant Nida is five months pregnant. The trauma of taking birth in a prison like Lord Krishna or the social stigma attached to it is not sufferable to anyone. To avoid such a distressing situation, and for the welcoming and overall wellbeing of a newborn baby, it would be just and proper to exercise judicial discretion in favour of the applicant-accused," the court said.
The judge also observed that the investigation had been completed and the chargesheet filed, making continued custody unnecessary.
Khan has been chargesheeted only in the case registered at Deolali Camp police station, while seven other accused in the larger investigation are facing charges across nine FIRs registered between March 26 and April 3.
According to the prosecution, Khan allegedly attempted to influence a female colleague's religious beliefs by giving her a burqa and Islamic religious books, installing applications related to Islam on her mobile phone, visiting her residence to teach her how to offer namaz, and demonstrating how to wear a hijab.
Officials have alleged that these actions were part of an attempt to persuade the complainant to change her religion.
In its order, however, the court also noted that the material collected during the investigation prima facie suggested Khan, along with other accused, had attempted to "brainwash the victim" and influence her ideological and religious beliefs.
The order referred to allegations that the accused sought to convince the complainant that there were "objectionable stories in the Hindu religion".
Khan's counsel argued that she had been falsely implicated and highlighted that she was a highly educated professional who had worked as an Associate at TCS before her services were terminated in April 2026. The prosecution, along with counsel representing one of the victims, opposed her bail, contending that the investigation had uncovered sufficient evidence relating to allegations of sexual exploitation and religious coercion.
The court nevertheless granted Khan bail on a personal bond of Rs 75,000 along with one solvent surety of the same amount.
The case forms part of a wider probe being conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nashik Police into nine FIRs involving allegations of sexual exploitation, attempted forced religious conversion, hurting religious sentiments, molestation and mental harassment of women employees at the TCS unit in Nashik.
The Deolali Camp police case, in which Khan has been chargesheeted, has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to sexual intercourse by deceitful means, sexual harassment and outraging religious feelings. The accused have also been booked under relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as the complainant belongs to the Dalit community.
Following the allegations, TCS had said it follows a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion in any form, and confirmed that employees accused in the Nashik sexual harassment case had been suspended pending investigation.
A special court in Maharashtra's Nashik has granted bail to former Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) employee Nida Khan, who is accused in a workplace harassment and conversion case, observing that no woman should have to endure the trauma of giving birth in prison. Drawing a parallel with the birth of Lord Krishna in a prison, the court said such a situation would cause avoidable distress to both the mother and the newborn.
Khan, who is five months pregnant, was arrested nearly two months ago in connection with one of the cases linked to the alleged sexual exploitation and religious coercion of female employees at a TCS outsourcing unit in Nashik.
Granting her bail, Special Judge KG Joshi noted that Khan's pregnancy, coupled with the completion of the investigation, warranted judicial discretion in her favour.
"It is not disputed that applicant Nida is five months pregnant. The trauma of taking birth in a prison like Lord Krishna or the social stigma attached to it is not sufferable to anyone. To avoid such a distressing situation, and for the welcoming and overall wellbeing of a newborn baby, it would be just and proper to exercise judicial discretion in favour of the applicant-accused," the court said.
The judge also observed that the investigation had been completed and the chargesheet filed, making continued custody unnecessary.
Khan has been chargesheeted only in the case registered at Deolali Camp police station, while seven other accused in the larger investigation are facing charges across nine FIRs registered between March 26 and April 3.
According to the prosecution, Khan allegedly attempted to influence a female colleague's religious beliefs by giving her a burqa and Islamic religious books, installing applications related to Islam on her mobile phone, visiting her residence to teach her how to offer namaz, and demonstrating how to wear a hijab.
Officials have alleged that these actions were part of an attempt to persuade the complainant to change her religion.
In its order, however, the court also noted that the material collected during the investigation prima facie suggested Khan, along with other accused, had attempted to "brainwash the victim" and influence her ideological and religious beliefs.
The order referred to allegations that the accused sought to convince the complainant that there were "objectionable stories in the Hindu religion".
Khan's counsel argued that she had been falsely implicated and highlighted that she was a highly educated professional who had worked as an Associate at TCS before her services were terminated in April 2026. The prosecution, along with counsel representing one of the victims, opposed her bail, contending that the investigation had uncovered sufficient evidence relating to allegations of sexual exploitation and religious coercion.
The court nevertheless granted Khan bail on a personal bond of Rs 75,000 along with one solvent surety of the same amount.
The case forms part of a wider probe being conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nashik Police into nine FIRs involving allegations of sexual exploitation, attempted forced religious conversion, hurting religious sentiments, molestation and mental harassment of women employees at the TCS unit in Nashik.
The Deolali Camp police case, in which Khan has been chargesheeted, has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to sexual intercourse by deceitful means, sexual harassment and outraging religious feelings. The accused have also been booked under relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as the complainant belongs to the Dalit community.
Following the allegations, TCS had said it follows a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion in any form, and confirmed that employees accused in the Nashik sexual harassment case had been suspended pending investigation.
