TCS Conversion Case : Nashik Court Reserves Verdict On Nida Khan Anticipatory Bail Plea Amid Custodial Probe Demand
Nashik court rejects anticipatory bail plea of Nida Khan in TCS harassment and alleged religious conversion case
The Nashik Police on Monday opposed the anticipatory bail plea of Nida Khan before a trial court, asserting that the accused; described as absconding in the alleged TCS sexual exploitation and forced religious conversion case, must be subjected to custodial interrogation.
Appearing for the prosecution, the police submitted that crucial aspects of the investigation remained incomplete and required Khan’s custody. “Her financial links need to be probed. Certain links with Malaysia and Malegaon were found. Her phone needs to be sent for forensic investigation,” the prosecution told the court, as per reports.
According to the police, the case involves allegations that the victim’s identity was altered, with her name allegedly changed to ‘Haniya’, and that religious content, including reels, was uploaded on her Instagram account as part of the alleged acts.
Khan’s counsel, Advocate Rahul Kasliwal, opposed the plea for custodial interrogation, arguing that the legal framework in Maharashtra does not criminalise religious conversion in the same manner as some other states. He contended that there was no specific statutory bar on conversions and maintained that the investigation could proceed without arrest.
The defence further submitted that multiple FIRs arising out of the same set of allegations could be consolidated and investigated together, asserting that custodial interrogation was unnecessary in the circumstances.
The matter was heard in-camera, with both sides completing their submissions before the court.
After hearing the parties, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) K.G. Joshi declined to grant interim protection from arrest to Khan and reserved its order on the anticipatory bail application.
The decision is expected to be pronounced on May 2.
Earlier, on April 20, the Court had refused to grant interim protection from arrest to accused Nida Ejaz Khan. The anticipatory bail application, filed on April 18 through Advocates Baba Sayyad and Rahul Kasliwal, also sought interim relief pending final adjudication. However, the Court had declined to grant any such protection.
The charges invoked include Sections 69 (sexual intercourse obtained under false promise of marriage), 75 (sexual harassment), 299 (insulting religious beliefs), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Complainants have alleged that they were subjected to inappropriate physical contact, sexually coloured remarks, and coercion, including threats of increased workload if they did not comply. Some victims have also alleged attempts to influence their religious beliefs, including claims that Islam was portrayed as superior to Hinduism and derogatory remarks were made about Hindu deities.
Taking cognisance of media reports, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has initiated a suo motu inquiry into the matter. The Commission has constituted a fact-finding committee comprising retired Bombay High Court judge Justice Sadhna Jadhav, former IPS officer BK Sinha, Advocate Monika Arora, and senior NCW coordinator Lilabati.
The committee has been tasked with conducting an on-ground inquiry at the TCS Nashik facility and any other relevant locations. It will examine the circumstances leading to the alleged incidents, assess the response of authorities, and recommend measures to prevent recurrence and strengthen workplace safety for women. The committee has been given the flexibility to determine its own procedure and schedule, but has been directed to submit its report within ten working days.
Interestingly, a plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking sweeping directions declaring what it terms “deceitful religious conversion” as a grave threat to constitutional values, and urging the State to treat it as organised crime, terrorism, and even “indirect waging war”. The plea has been filed in the suo motu case on religious conversions cites the "Organised Religious Conversion in Nasik" as having "shaken the conscience of citizens across the country."
At the outset, the plea makes a stark assertion on demographics, stating that “Demography is Destiny. And, presently around 1,000 Girls are trapped under the garb of Love and converted everyday into foreign religion. Similarly, around 1500 families (particularly EWS, BPL SC, ST, OBC) are deceitfully converted everyday into foreign religion.” It further claims that such practices amount to a structural threat to the nation’s constitutional fabric, arguing that “Organized Religious Conversion in Nasik has shaken the conscience of Citizens throughout the Country. Therefore, petitioner is filing this Application for Direction seeking certain directions and declarations to control Deceitful Religious Conversion, which is a serious threat to Sovereignty, Secularism, Democracy, Equality, Justice, Liberty, Fraternity, Unity and National integration.”
Bench: ASJ KG Joshi
Hearing Date: April 27, 2026