Nashik TCS woman staffer arrested from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 'sexual exploitation, religious harassment' case

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: A woman employee of Nashik-based Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), wanted in a case involving alleged sexual exploitation and "religious harassment" of a colleague, was arrested from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar late on Thursday night.

Confirming the development, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar commissioner of police (CP) Pravin Pawar told TOI the Nashik city police and the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city police jointly conducted the operation. "The accused woman was detained from the Naregaon area of the city. She has been handed over to the Nashik city police. Further legal process is underway," Pawar said.

The police zeroed in on the woman employee of TCS five days after a sessions court at Nashik Road rejected her anticipatory bail plea. Two of her male colleagues have been named as co-accused in the case registered on March 26 with the Deolali Camp police in Nashik district. The duo were arrested earlier.

An officer associated with the joint operation said the accused woman was staying at a relative's residence in the city. "We are investigating when and how she came to Sambhajinagar," he said.

According to the police, the main accused in the case worked as a team lead at the TCS office in Nashik. He allegedly concealed his marital status and sexually exploited the complainant by promising to marry her.

The police said another male colleague, named as a co-accused, allegedly sexually harassed the complainant at the office lobby and other places. The woman employee detained from Sambhajinagar was accused of making remarks that allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of the complainant.

The police have invoked charges under sections 69 (sexual intercourse obtained by deceitful means or false promise of marriage), 75 (sexual harassment), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 3(5) [common intention] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the accused. Relevant provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have also been applied in the case.