2 accused of sexual harassment at Nashik TCS facility remanded in 14-day judicial custody

Nashik: A magisterial court in Nashik on Monday remanded two accused to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with multiple cases of alleged sexual harassment reported at the TCS Nashik office.The two men are named in four of the nine sexual harassment cases registered so far. They were taken into custody on April 16 in connection with the third case registered against them.Cases were registered against the accused under sections 74, 75 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — relating to assault or criminal force to outrage a woman's modesty, sexual harassment, and acts or words intended to insult the modesty of a woman— along with section 3(5) for common intention. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) was initially granted police custody till April 18, which was later extended till April 20.According to the prosecution, the accused repeatedly contacted the complainant and attempted to intrude into her private life, seeking physical proximity against her wishes. One of the accused allegedly proposed a relationship, while the other is accused of making vulgar comments about the complainant's body and touching her inappropriately, thereby outraging her modesty.Assistant public prosecutor Aniket Avhad told the court that the accused are habitual offenders and that a detailed probe into their alleged conduct is underway. He said the SIT is yet to identify and record statements of potential eyewitnesses.Avhad further submitted that the accused have been uncooperative during questioning, offering vague replies to investigators. He sought 14 days of judicial custody, while requesting that the prosecution's right to seek further police custody be kept open if required during the ongoing investigation.Further probe into the remaining cases is continuing.