Kamal Ghorui
NASHIK: The accused in the alleged TCS Nashik sexual harassment and religious coercion case are in the process of moving a Nashik court for bail and anticipatory bail, according to a report by Bar and Bench.Lawyers Baba Sayyed and Rahul Kasliwal, representing some of the accused, said they are preparing anticipatory bail application for one female accused (who is yet to be arrested) and regular bail applications for others who were arrested and are in judicial custody.
The absconding accused is in the process of approaching a Nashik court for anticipatory bail, citing her pregnancy and medical condition, according to report.Sources told Bar and Bench, that the accused is waiting for a certified copy of the first information report (FIR).According to news agency ANI, advocate Baba Sayyad, representing the absconding female accused, stated that there were no allegations of religious conversion or harassment against her.The lawyer told ANI that the accused has been named in an FIR for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.He also clarified that the accused was not an HR Manager at TCS, but instead worked as a process associate.Advocate Baba Sayyad said, “The first complaint included sections dealing with offences of rape and hurting religious sentiments. Police investigation revealed that other illegal activities and eight FIRs were filed,” as quoted by news agency ANI.“FIR doesn’t mention forceful religious conversion, only a complaint of hurting religious sentiments. Two accused are under police custody. Their custody will end tomorrow (Saturday),” he added.A local court on Thursday remanded two accused in a case related to alleged sexual harassment and forcible religious conversion at a private IT firm unit here in police custody till April 18.The two accused, arrested afresh on Wednesday after earlier being sent to judicial custody in a related case, were produced before the court the next day.The court granted two-day police custody. So far, seven employees — six men working at the Nashik unit of the company and a woman HR manager — have been arrested across nine FIRs. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted earlier this week to probe complaints filed by eight women employees, who alleged mental and sexual harassment by senior colleagues and claimed that their complaints were ignored by the HR department.Some complainants also alleged attempts at forcible religious conversion and harassment linked to religious sentiments.The company has stated that it follows a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion and confirmed that those allegedly involved have been suspended.The management has also termed the allegations as serious and stated that an internal investigation is underway under senior leadership to determine the facts and fix accountability.Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women has constituted a fact-finding committee to examine the matter.City police also cautioned that certain news channels and social media accounts were circulating content that could reveal the identity of the women complainants. Police reiterated that disclosing the identity of any victim, directly or indirectly, is a punishable offence and causes severe distress to victims and their families.(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
