Nashik police add fifth accused in TCS sexual assault case registered with Deolali Camp police

Nashik: The police have named a fifth accused in the TCS Nashik sexual assault case, booking one more man from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for allegedly sheltering a suspect who was evading arrest.

The accused had allegedly rented out his house to the TCS employee who was evading arrest. The police said they will inform the court about his inclusion in the case.

“We will formally inform the court of his addition to the case as an accused for providing shelter to the TCS staffer,” said ACP (crime) Sandeep Mitke, who heads the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The case, registered on March 26 at Deolali Camp police station, is among nine cases being probed by the SIT involving allegations of sexual assault, harassment and hurting religious sentiments linked to TCS Nashik.

On May 22, the SIT filed a 1,500-page chargesheet against four accused before the Nashik Road sessions court.

Initially, three accused were booked under sections 69 (sexual intercourse by deceit or false promise of marriage), 75 (sexual harassment), 299 (acts outraging religious sentiments) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The accused woman in the case was evading arrest since the FIR was registered, and was detained on May 7 from the Sambhajinagar house.

Investigations also led to the booking of AIMIM corporator Mateen Patel, who allegedly arranged her accommodation in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. On Monday, the police jointly questioned Patel and the new accused to establish their links with the TCS employee.

The police have since seized Patel’s mobile phone and are set to collect his voice samples for forensic analysis. His advocate, Abhaysinh Bhosle, confirmed, “Corporator Mateen Patel has been called to furnish his voice sample for forensic analysis on Thursday.”