A day after Nashik Police arrested Nida Khan, the prime accused in the TCS Nashik sexual harassment and alleged religious coercion case, several news reports have suggested that she was hiding in a flat linked to All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Corporator Matin Patel in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Khan was arrested late on Thursday night after being on the run for over 40 days.
Several news reports, quoting police sources, said that the 26-year-old former employee at the TCS Nashik BPO unit was hiding in a flat in the Kausar Park area of Naregaon for about five days. Officers conducted surveillance for two days based on technical leads and a tip-off before raiding the premises.
Nashik Police have reportedly issued a notice to Patel and seized his mobile phone for forensic examination. A case has been registered against him under relevant sections, including provisions related to harbouring an offender. He is being questioned in this connection.
Maharashtra political leaders react
The arrest has triggered sharp reactions from political leaders. Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat described the case as “corporate jihad” and alleged a larger conspiracy involving AIMIM. He also targeted former AIMIM Member of Parliament (MP) Imtiaz Jaleel and demanded action under MCOCA against the leaders involved.
Meanwhile, another Maharashtra Minister, Nitesh Rane, told a news channel that the matter is now of national security.
He strongly criticised AIMIM and said, “MIM is a terrorist party, just like ISI, PFI… Their intentions are to make this state an Islamic state… by 2047.”
Rane also linked the alleged sheltering of Khan to broader activities involving religious conversions and demanded a thorough investigation, including into Jaleel’s role.
AIMIM leaders have not issued any official statement on the allegations so far.
TCS conversion, sexual assault case
The matter came to light in March 2026 after a 23-year-old woman employee filed a complaint of sexual harassment and religious coercion at Deolali Camp Police Station in Nashik. Multiple first information reports (FIRs) were registered, involving charges of sexual harassment, hurting religious sentiments, and other offences.
Khan is accused of playing a key role. According to the police, she allegedly provided the complainant with a burqa, religious books, and installed religious apps on her phone. She is also alleged to have planned to change the complainant’s identity and send her abroad, possibly to Malaysia, for employment. Khan was suspended by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in April. Several other accused are already in custody.
Khan had sought anticipatory bail citing pregnancy, but the Nashik Sessions Court rejected the application, citing the serious nature of the allegations and possible links to a larger network. She is expected to be produced in court on Friday.
Ongoing probe
The Maharashtra Special Investigation Team (SIT) is examining financial transactions, funding sources, and the functioning of the internal Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) committee at TCS. The company has stated that it is cooperating with the authorities and that no formal complaints were received through official channels before the police case.