Nashik: Nida Khan, the prime accused in the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Nashik related sexual harassment and religious coercion case who had been apprehended last evening in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar after being almost a month on the run has now been sent to Police Custody by the Nashik Road Sessions Court.
Last night Nida Khan was arrested by Maharashtra Police from a residential apartment in Kaiser Colony located in the Naregaon area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
While in hiding, Nida Khan had applied for interim relief and anticipatory bail in the case to avoid arrest and while claiming innocence also stated her pregnancy as the reason to seek relief.
Last week (on May 4), denying anticipatory bail to Nida Khan in the now well-known case containing allegations of forced religious conversion and sexual harassment, the Nashik Sessions Court said that Khan gave “burqa” to the victim, trained her for offering of “Namaz”, which showed a “systematic brainwashing” of the victim. Earlier, on May 2, the Additional Sessions Judge Kedar Joshi in his order, had refused to grant interim bail to the accused.
On May 7, acting on a tip-off, Maharashtra Police conducted a discreet surveillance operation at a house in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. After closely monitoring the location for nearly two days, officers confirmed the presence of absconding accused Nida Khan and arrested her before evening.
She had reportedly been staying at the residence with her parents, brother, and aunt for the past few days. To avoid attracting attention, the police team operated in plain clothes and did not use official vehicles during the surveillance and arrest.
According to reports, Khan was planning to move a bail application in the High Court, but police took her into custody before she could do so. The operation was carried out jointly by the Nashik Special Investigation Team (SIT), the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Police Commissionerate, and the Crime Branch.
Following her detention and completion of legal formalities, Khan was produced before a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for transit remand. She was subsequently taken to Nashik for further interrogation and legal proceedings.
In an official statement, the SIT said Khan was wanted in connection with a case registered at Devlali Camp Police Station under Crime Register No. 156/26. Authorities added that the arrest was made under provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). So far, seven individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.
After acquiring her Transit Remand in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the SIT and Crime Branch Police brought the accused to Nashik and since the Devlali Camp Police Station comes under the Nashik Road Sessions Court, she was presented before the Magistrate who has now sent her for Custodial Interrogation and will remain under PC till Monday 11 May.
