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Nida Khan, who was accused in the case of alleged sexual exploitation and forcible conversion at Tata Consultancy Services office in Nashik, was remanded in police custody till May 11 in Nashik on Friday (May 8, 2026). Ms Khan was earlier arrested by the Nashik police in a joint operation with the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar police.
The police also arrested an AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) corporator from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on charges of allegedly harboring Ms Khan while she was on the run from the law.
The latest development in the TCS case has led to a war of words between AIMIM leader Imtiyaz Jaleel and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Guardian Minister Sanjay Shirsat of the Shiv Sena.
Role of AIMIM
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said it was clear that an AIMIM corporator had helped Ms Khan hide from the police. “We will find out who was behind it. The next question is, was he involved in the reconstruction racket? Are they helping it? We will find out,” he said.
A court in Nashik allowed Ms Khan to meet her mother twice a day while she was in police custody, based on her early pregnancy.
“Nida Khan absconded after the court rejected her anticipatory bail application. Information about her whereabouts was gathered through intelligence services. She was picked up by plainclothes policemen to pick her up in a swift action. She was then produced before a judicial magistrate to seek transit custody to be brought to Nashik. She was in Nashik,” said a Materegaon police officer, where PIMen Majid was hiding her.
Link Malaysia
The prosecution told the court that Ms Khan needed to be questioned about whether she was given any financial help to carry out the alleged crime and whether she had promised to send the victim to Malaysia to find work with a man called Imran. It accused Ms Khan of going to the victim’s residence to teach her religion and teaching her the religious practices of Islam.
The prosecution also argued that the police wanted to know how the accused met the victim, how she allegedly pressured her and her family members, how she allegedly hurt the victim’s religious sentiments and how she allegedly changed the victim’s name to ‘Haniya’. Police case diaries were presented to the court during the closed-camera hearing.
Police also said they needed to chemically analyze Ms Khan’s phone as the accused allegedly used the device to send YouTube links, Instagram and religious conversion roles to others.
A war of words
Meanwhile, Mr. Shirsat demanded that AIMIM leader Mr. Jaleel be questioned about any possible link with Ms. Khan.
“AIMIM is trying to encourage religious conversions and cheat girls. Nida Khan is just a pawn but they have a network across Maharashtra. I will request the Chief Minister to order an investigation through SIT to unearth the mastermind. We don’t know where Khan was all those days but she was kept in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. She was promoting her activities. And the Slum where she was hiding illegally. the aides should be investigated,” said Mr. Shirsat.
Mr. Jaleel hit back and asked Mr. Shirsat if he was a police officer. “Will the police interrogate me now through the Guardian Minister? Does the Guardian Minister wear a police uniform and act like the police and the court?” he asked, adding that Ms Khan was being treated like a terrorist.
“There is no lookout notice or non-bailable case against her. If she was involved in any terrorist activities, the police could do it. The FIR says there are charges of spreading communal hatred and hurting religious sentiments. But she is being treated as if she has killed many people or is involved in terrorist activities,” he said.
Published – 08 May 2026 22:43 IST
