New Delhi: The case of alleged religious conversion and sexual harassment at the Nashik office of TATA Consultancy Services in Maharashtra has triggered a massive controversy and grabbed everyone’s attention in the country. It began with one female employee filing a complaint at Devlali police station in March, where she accused one of her seniors of rape. It prompted the police to launch a covert operation at the BPO firm.
Since then, the police have arrested six employees in connection with the case and registered a total of nine FIRs related to rape, sexual harassment, and hurting religious sentiments. Following the first complaint, eight more staff members have lodged complaints regarding sexual harassment. In the eye of the storm is one of the key accused, Nida Khan, the HR official, who is reportedly on the run.
Who is Nida Khan?
One of the eight accused in the Nashik controversy, 26-year-old Nida Khan, has been dubbed by the police as the mastermind behind the alleged religious conversions at the TCS BPO office. Her family has said that Nida joined the BPO in December 2021. However, they have added that she did not work in Human Resources and was rather a telecaller who was not among the senior staff.
Nida’s father, while speaking to the Hindustan Times, said, “My daughter has not done any of these things. She simply went to work every day and got into trouble just for saying hello and goodbye to people.” She was raised and educated in Nashik and has a commerce degree. Currently, apart from working, she is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration through correspondence. Last year, she got married and lives in Mumbai with her husband.
Family claims Nida Khan is pregnant, in Mumbai
Her family, refuting claims of Nida being on the run, has reportedly said that she is currently in Mumbai and is expecting her first child. She has approached a local court in Nashik for anticipatory bail, potentially framing her medical condition as a key factor in her application.
Meanwhile, TCS has said in a statement that the IT giant “has a long-standing zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form. We have always ensured the highest standards of safety and well-being of our employees at the workplace.”