A court in Maharashtra’s Nashik has granted bail to five men arrested in connection with an alleged sexual harassment and forced religious conversion case involving a woman employee at the Nashik unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
Additional Sessions Judge Amit Vinayak Kharkar allowed the bail applications of Raza Rafiq Memon, Asif Aftab Ansari, Shah Rukh Hussain Shaukat Qureshi, Shafi Bhikan Shaikh and Tausif Bilal Attar on July 30. The accused were arrested in connection with multiple FIRs registered at Mumbai Naka Police Station.
Court Cites Completion of Investigation
While granting bail, the court observed that the chargesheet had already been filed and the investigation was almost complete.
The court also noted that there was no serious apprehension that the accused would threaten prosecution witnesses or tamper with evidence if released.
“The chargesheet has been filed and the investigation is almost complete. There is no serious apprehension that the accused will threaten prosecution witnesses or tamper with evidence if released on bail,” the court observed.
Allegations Against the Accused
According to the prosecution, the complainant and the accused were employed at TCS’s Nashik office.
Police alleged that the main accused, Raza Rafiq Memon, made sexually explicit remarks, touched the complainant inappropriately, demanded sexual favours and insulted her religion by claiming his religion was superior. The remaining accused allegedly supported his actions.
The prosecution opposed the bail pleas, arguing that the accused exploited the complainant’s weak financial condition and forced her to continue working in an unsafe environment.
Defence Denies Allegations
The defence argued that the allegations had been exaggerated. Counsel Rahul Kaslival submitted that even if the alleged remarks were accepted at face value, they amounted to “light banter” in the workplace and did not justify continued custody.
The court noted that the accused had already spent more than three months in jail before granting them bail.
Strict Bail Conditions Imposed
The court directed all five accused to report to the police station every Saturday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. until the conclusion of the trial.
They have also been restrained from visiting the complainant’s workplace or residential area, contacting the complainant or prosecution witnesses, or attempting to influence anyone connected with the case.
SIT Probing Multiple Cases
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is investigating a total of nine cases linked to alleged sexual harassment, attempted forced religious conversion, outraging religious sentiments, molestation and mental harassment involving women employees at the TCS Nashik unit.
In response to the allegations, TCS said it follows a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion in the workplace. The company stated that the employees accused of sexual harassment have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
