All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said it was wrong to associate his party with the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) case accused Nida Khan and asserted that she will be proven innocent in court, news agency PTI reported.
Khan, a key accused in the TCS sexual harassment and forced conversion case, was arrested from Maharashtra`s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Thursday by Nashik Police. Following her arrest, AIMIM Corporator Matin Patel was booked for allegedly sheltering her while she was on the run.
The developments have drawn sharp reactions from ruling Mahayuti leaders, including ministers Sanjay Shirsat and Nitesh Rane, who have demanded a deeper probe against AIMIM in the case.
Addressing reporters after a party meeting regarding the upcoming special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Owaisi said Khan was being subjected to a “media trial”.
“Nida Khan was transferred from her job before the FIR was registered. We all have seen the statement of TCS. It says she is not connected in any manner to the HR department. Nine FIRs have been registered so far and in one of them, Nida Khan has been named for allegedly hurting religious sentiments,” he stated.
Asserting that the complainant in the case is a “member of the ruling party”, the Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) questioned whether possession of a burqa or a book on Prophet Mohammad was illegal.
“Earlier, in Delhi, police dubbed some youth as terrorists because a book of (legendary poet) Mirza Ghalib was found in their home,” he pointed out.
Owaisi slams ‘media trial’ of Nida Khan, says case won’t stand in court
“This is a media trial and if the media acts like judge and jury, it is dangerous. It will not serve the purpose of justice. We have faith that the court will deliver justice and the girl (Nida Khan) will be proven innocent. This case will not stand in court,” Owaisi emphasised.
He further said, “This is being done with an intention to harass educated persons from the Muslim community. The allegations are coming out of hatred. The judiciary will play its role. But connecting a party with this case is completely wrong.”
On his party colleague and corporator Matin Patel being booked, Owaisi said the charges will be contested in court.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Nashik police is probing nine cases of molestation and harassment at TCS’s Nashik unit. Nida Khan is accused of targeting employees in a WhatsApp group, pressuring them to pray, eat non-vegetarian food and follow Islamic traditions.
(With PTI inputs)