Court grants bail to woman accused in TCS Nashik sexual harassment, conversion case

A local court has granted bail to the woman accused in the alleged sexual harassment and religious conversion case at Tata Consultancy Services' (TCS) branch in Nashik.Additional Sessions Judge K G Joshi of the Nashik Road Court granted bail to the main accused in the case but denied the same relief to the co-accused, as cited by PTI.Represented by advocate Rahul Kasliwal, the woman sought bail primarily on the grounds of her pregnancy.Public Prosecutor Vijay Gaikwad, along with the victim's counsel Milind Kurkute and Nitin Pandit, opposed the bail applications of both accused.The prosecution argued that evidence of alleged sexual assault and religious coercion emerged during the investigation.It submitted that one of the accused had given the victim, a co-worker, an Islamic book and a burqa with the intention of converting her to Islam.The prosecution further argued that these actions indicated the victim was allegedly subjected to sexual exploitation and attempts were made to convert her.It also alleged that the accused attempted to convert the victim despite knowing that she belonged to a Scheduled Caste.The case relates to an FIR registered at the Deolali Camp police station under Sections 69 (sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means), 65 (sexual harassment) and 299 (outraging religious feelings) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).The two accused have also been booked under relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.A Special Investigation Team of the Nashik Police is investigating nine cases linked to allegations of exploitation, attempted forced religious conversion, outraging religious sentiments, molestation and mental harassment of female employees at the TCS unit in the city.According to the Nashik City Police, the complaint alleged that a Hindu woman in her early 20s had begun following Islamic practices under the influence of colleagues at her workplace.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.