The investigation into the controversial TCS Nashik conversion and sexual harassment case widened on Friday after police detained AIMIM councillor Abdul Mateen Patel for allegedly helping key accused Nida Khan evade arrest for nearly 25 days.
Patel, a councillor from Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, has been booked under provisions related to assisting an offender, as investigators probe allegations of sheltering and aiding Khan while she remained absconding.
AIMIM councillor taken into custody
According to investigators, Abdul Mateen Patel was detained by the Nashik Crime Branch in connection with the ongoing probe into the alleged conversion and sexual harassment racket linked to a TCS-associated BPO unit in Nashik.
Police registered a case against Patel under Section 249 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to assisting an offender in evading legal action.
Officials alleged that Patel helped former TCS employee Nida Khan avoid police detection while she remained absconding after multiple FIRs were filed in the case.
Investigators are currently questioning Patel regarding his alleged role and possible knowledge of Khan’s whereabouts during the period she was on the run.
Nida Khan arrested after 25 days on the run
The development came a day after police arrested Nida Khan in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar after she allegedly evaded arrest for 25 days.
According to police sources, Khan was traced to an apartment where she was reportedly staying with relatives. She was produced before a local court on a transfer warrant before being brought to Nashik for further investigation.
Initially believed to be an HR official, investigators later clarified that Khan worked as a telecaller at the TCS-linked BPO unit in Nashik.
Police have accused her of hurting religious sentiments, attempting religious conversion, discouraging complainants from approaching police, and assisting other accused persons allegedly involved in sexual exploitation and harassment.
Investigators also noted that the locality where Khan was found falls within the constituency represented by Patel, leading police to examine whether political connections were used to help her remain hidden.
AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel defends due process
The arrest of Khan and detention of Patel triggered political reactions from AIMIM leaders, with senior party leader Imtiaz Jaleel alleging that a “false atmosphere” was being created around the case.
Jaleel accused sections of the media of conducting a “trial” before the judiciary had reached any conclusion and maintained that every accused individual has the right to legal remedies.
Do you know where Nida Khan was all these 25 days?
Initially, she was hiding in Malegaon, then in Mumbra, and yesterday she was arrested from Sambhaji Nagar.
I am sharing a video of AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel. He is saying, “I met family members of Nida Khan and assured them… pic.twitter.com/pOQz0hpU1O
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) May 8, 2026
He said Khan had maintained her innocence when he met her family and argued that the investigation should proceed independently without political interference.
Targeting Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat, Jaleel alleged that attempts were being made to politicise the matter and stressed that allegations alone should not be treated as proof of guilt.
What is the TCS Nashik conversion case?
The controversy centres around a TCS-linked BPO unit in Nashik, where several women employees between the ages of 18 and 25 alleged sexual harassment, molestation, stalking, coercion, and attempts at religious conversion by senior employees and team leaders over a prolonged period.
According to the FIRs, complainants alleged they were pressured to perform namaz, encouraged to wear hijab and burqa, and coerced into consuming non-vegetarian food.
Some women further alleged that derogatory remarks were made against Hindu deities and religious practices inside the workplace.
Several complainants also accused certain employees of exploiting women sexually on the pretext of marriage, intimidation, and manipulation. One accused, identified as Tausif Attar, allegedly promised marriage before engaging in sexual relations with a colleague.
Police said at least nine FIRs have so far been registered against multiple accused individuals, including Danish Sheikh, Tausif Attar, Raza Memon, Shahrukh Qureshi, Shafi Shaikh, Asif Ansari, and others.
The case has sparked significant political debate in Maharashtra and intensified discussions around workplace harassment, religious coercion, and organised conversion allegations.
Investigation continues
The Nashik Crime Branch is continuing its investigation into the broader network of accused persons and possible assistance provided to absconding suspects.
Police are also examining digital evidence, communication records, and financial links to determine whether there was coordinated involvement in helping accused individuals evade arrest.
More arrests or detentions are likely as the investigation progresses.
