TCS Conversion Racket Case: Main Accused Nida Khan Arrested From Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Maharashtra: The main accused in the TCS conversion racket case, Nida Khan, has been arrested from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and will be produced before a Nashik court tomorrow. 

Khan, 26, an employee at Tata Consultancy Services’ Nashik office, had been absconding since March 26, when the first FIR related to alleged workplace harassment and a religious conversion racket was registered at Deolali Camp Police Station. The two other accused in the case. Danish Shaikh and Tausif Attar,  have been in judicial custody since March 27.

Court Had Earlier Rejected Anticipatory Bail

Previously, a court denied Nida Khan anticipatory bail, describing the offence as "serious" and noting that she was one of the primary accused in the case. Public Prosecutor Ajay Misar stated that the court considered her custody interrogation "necessary" for the investigation.

Khan had sought pre-arrest bail, citing her pregnancy. Following the denial of her plea, search efforts were begun across Maharashtra.

The Nashik Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested eight people in connection with the matter, including a female operations manager, and nine FIRs have been registered. 

Allegations Against Nida Khan

Investigative agencies opposed Khan's anticipatory bail request, claiming that critical leads had developed in the probe and that her interrogation was required.

According to one complaint, a woman accused Khan of offending her religious beliefs. The prosecution said that Khan changed the complainant's identity to "Haniya" and promised her a job in Malaysia while persistently encouraging her to change her religion.

The prosecution further claimed that Khan warned the woman that denying conversion would bring disaster to her family. According to the SIT, Khan also allegedly trained the complainant to conduct namaz, taught her to wear a headscarf at home, and placed Islamic software on her phone.

TCS Suspended Nida Khan

Following the controversy, Tata Consultancy Services suspended Nida Khan with immediate effect. In a letter to the 26-year-old process associate at the Nashik facility, TCS claimed that she had been suspended owing to the gravity of the charges and her inability to perform her official duties.

"This is to inform you that the Company has been made aware of a serious matter reported against you... Considering the seriousness of the matter as reported and that you are presently unable to discharge your official duties, the Company has decided to place you under suspension with immediate effect until further communication and decision in the matter by the Management," the latter read, adding, "Your access to the TCS network is being temporarily revoked". 

"You are directed not to discuss / speak in any form on this subject with any other employee and maintain strict confidentiality in the matter. Any failure on your part to co-operate in the matter will result in disciplinary action," it added. 

The company instructed her not to report to any TCS offices or contact any employees about the situation. TCS also temporarily restricted her access to the company network, warning that any lack of cooperation could result in disciplinary action.

Nida Khan is alleged to have worked as a tele-caller in the sales department of the TCS-run BPO in Nashik. She joined the company in December 2021 and was not one of its senior executives.

“She served as a process associate and did not hold any leadership responsibilities,” the company stated.

What Is Known About Nida Khan?

The Nashik Police have named Nida Khan as the "absconding mastermind" of the alleged religious conversion attempts.

Khan, a commerce graduate seeking an MBA, moved to Mumbai in January to live with her husband. Her relatives, on the other hand, denied that she was fleeing and stated that she was in Mumbai, expecting her first child.

The family also claimed foul play and digital harassment based on unsubstantiated assertions. They further confirmed that Khan was not a member of the BPO's human resources department, contrary to allegations on television and social media.