A 26-year-old woman employee of TCS Nashik has filed an anticipatory bail plea before the Nashik Road Sessions Court, citing pregnancy as one of the grounds for relief. She is accused of subjecting a co-worker to religious harassment at the office. Her lawyer, Baba Sayyed, confirmed the application was filed and will be heard on Monday.
In a related development, the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate R C Narwadiya remanded two other accused individuals to police custody until April 20. These two are named in four out of nine total cases involving alleged sexual harassment and religious conversion bids at the TCS Nashik office. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested them in connection with the third of the four cases against them.
The SIT has also added Section 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) to the case, citing allegations that the accused followed a victim through electronic communication despite her clear disinterest. According to Kiran Bendbhar, assistant director of public prosecution, the investigation centers on persistent stalking and sexual harassment of women colleagues despite their refusals, which prompted the addition of this legal provision.
Authorities have seized high-end cellphones from the two suspects, with officials stating that technical analysis of these devices is critical to establish the sequence of events and uncover further evidence. They argue physical custody is needed to obtain passwords for devices, applications, and social media platforms to verify victim statements. However, the defense, led by Baba Sayyed, contends that police already possess the tools—such as ethical hackers and forensic tools—to bypass security without requiring physical custody of the devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the basis of the anticipatory bail plea filed by the TCS Nashik employee?
The anticipatory bail plea is based on the grounds that the woman is not the main accused, she is pregnant, and there has been a delay in filing the complaint against her.
What legal provision was added by the Special Investigation Team in the case?
The Special Investigation Team added Section 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly following the victim through electronic communication despite her clear disinterest.
What is the defense’s argument regarding the need for physical custody of the seized mobile phones?
The defense argues that police already have ethical hackers and forensic tools capable of cracking passwords and accessing data from mobile phones, applications, and social media without requiring physical custody of the devices.
How might the court’s decision on the anticipatory bail plea influence similar cases involving workplace allegations and personal circumstances like pregnancy?
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