Police teams from Nashik have reached Mumbra in Thane district as part of their search for a 26-year-old employee of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), who has been accused of “religious harassment” of a colleague at the company’s Nashik office.
According to investigators, the woman—originally from Nashik—had recently relocated to Mumbra after her husband took up a job there as a logistics officer. A local police officer said her husband informed authorities that she had left for Nashik a few days ago with a relative.
Husband questioned, search intensifies
As part of the probe, a team from the Nashik Crime Branch detained and questioned her husband at his workplace in Mumbra to determine her whereabouts. Officials said multiple teams have been deployed to trace the woman, but she remains untraceable.
Police also visited a relative’s residence where she was believed to be staying, but found it locked, with phones switched off. Authorities have since expanded their search to other possible locations.
Anticipatory bail plea in preparation
The accused is preparing to move a Nashik court for anticipatory (pre-arrest) bail. Her lawyer, Baba Sayyad, said the plea is being finalised in consultation with her family.
He stated that the case pertains to allegations of hurting religious sentiments and emphasised that seeking anticipatory bail is her constitutional right. He also noted that the woman is in the early stages of pregnancy, which will be cited as a ground for relief when the plea is filed before the sessions court in Nashik.
Multiple cases registered
Police said the woman has been named as a co-accused in one of nine cases registered so far, involving allegations of sexual exploitation and religious harassment.
The first FIR, filed on March 26 at Deolali Camp police station, stems from a complaint by a woman employee who accused a male colleague of concealing his marital status and sexually exploiting her under the pretext of helping her secure a job and promising marriage. The TCS staffer now under investigation is accused of making objectionable remarks that allegedly hurt the complainant’s religious sentiments.
NCW forms fact-finding panel
Amid the allegations, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has constituted a four-member fact-finding committee. The panel is expected to visit Nashik to conduct an on-site inquiry at the TCS facility and other relevant locations.
The committee will interact with victims, police officials, and company representatives, examine the circumstances surrounding the case, and assess whether there were any lapses in handling the situation. It is also tasked with recommending appropriate action based on its findings.
