Nashik Police on Friday filed the first chargesheet in connection with incidents of alleged sexual harassment, exploitation and conversion at TCS here. The Special Investigation Team of the police filed a 1,500-page charge sheet before the Sessions Court against Danish Ajaz Shaikh, Tauseef Bilal Attar, Nida Ajaz Khan and Matin Majeed Patel in a case registered at Deolali Camp police station.
Police have registered nine FIRs and arrested a total of eight people. AIMIM councilor Matin Patel is accused that when Nida Khan was absconding, he had given her shelter in his house in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Case registered under these sections
The charge sheet includes sections 61 (2) (criminal conspiracy), 64 (rape), 68 (sexual intercourse by person in authority), 69 (sexual intercourse by using fraudulent means), 46 (incitement), 75 (sexual harassment), 318 (4) (cheating), 299 (outraging religious sentiments) of the Indian Justice Code (BNS). Along with Section 249 (harboring a criminal), provisions of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have also been mentioned.
Among other things, the charge sheet cites screenshots of WhatsApp chats between the victim and the accused and seized emails. After eight complainants came forward alleging harassment at TCS’s Nashik unit, one case was registered at Deolali Camp police station and eight cases were registered at Mumbai Naka police station.
No tolerance for harassment and coercion
After these cases came to light, software major TCS said that it has a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion in any form, and the employees allegedly involved in sexual harassment in the Nashik office have been suspended.
Evidence found in investigation
- Statements of 17 witnesses were recorded before the First Class Judicial Magistrate under Section 183 of BNSS.
- Medical examination report of the victim and the accused.
- Evidence related to forced conversion and hurting religious sentiments.
- Technical and digital evidence including mobile, WhatsApp chat screenshots and seized email trails.
- Police have seized the original documents taken by the accused to change the name of the victim.
- Panchnama of the incident spot, bank statement, caste certificate, vehicle used in the crime, identification parade of seized material and documents related to financial fraud.
Chargesheet filed in court based on evidence
Although the chargesheet has been filed in the court on the basis of the evidence found, the investigation of the case will still continue and after collecting additional evidence, a supplementary chargesheet will also be filed under Section 193(9) of BNSS. In the other 8 cases registered at Mumbai Naka police station, investigation will be completed and charge sheet will be filed within the stipulated time. In all the cases, the bail petitions of the accused have been rejected by the court.
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