TCS Nashik case: Prosecution shows victim was forced to watch videos of Pakistani cleric Zakir Naik; details here | Today’s news

A charge sheet filed in connection with a case of alleged sexual harassment and forced religious conversion involving a TCS employee in Nashik has revealed what investigators describe as a systematic effort by the accused to influence and target the victims. One of the complainants told police she was asked to watch videos of Pakistani Islamic scholar and preacher Tariq Jamil and Indian preacher Zakir Naik as part of the trial.

According to her statement, which is part of the chargesheet filed in a Nashik court last week, the videos were presented as a way to better understand Islam.

The complainant further alleged that the accused had engaged in a sustained campaign of psychological and religious influence, portraying her actions as an attempt to help alleviate her “mental stress”. She told investigators that she was gradually “convinced” to believe that converting to Islam would reduce her mental stress, and claimed that over time she began to accept “these things”.

“Danish (Shaikh) told Tausif (Attar) and Nida (Khan) to give me information about the Islamic religion. That’s why Tausif and Nida told me about the Islamic religion from time to time. Tausif told me to look for videos of Zakir Naik and Dr. Israr Ahmed (Pakistani Islamic scholar) on my mobile, I disclosed them and as per his instructions I listened to PTI on YouTube.

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“I was convinced that if I embraced the Islamic religion, my mental stress would be reduced. I slowly began to believe in those things,” she mentioned.

What did the indictment reveal?

The charge sheet is related to a case registered at the Deolali Camp police station following a complaint filed by a 23-year-old employee of an IT company.

Apart from the three arrested accused – Danish Shaikh, Tausif Attar and Nida Khan – the chargesheet lists Matin Patel as an accused. The AIMIM corporator had allegedly given shelter to Khan when she was on the run from the authorities, according to the record sheet.

According to the prosecution, Patel allegedly helped Khan evade arrest despite knowing that her anticipatory bail application had already been rejected. The document further states that during the interrogation conducted before Khan’s arrest, the police repeatedly asked Patel about her whereabouts. In response, he allegedly told investigators, “Imtiaz Jaleel Sahib ko poochna padega (We will have to ask Imtiaz Jaleel),” referring to Imtiaz Jaleel.

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Patel later revealed where Nida Khan allegedly stayed with her parents, brother and aunt after being extensively questioned by investigators, according to the charges.

In her statement to the police, the complainant alleged that the three accused carried out a sustained campaign of psychological and religious influence, exploiting her emotional vulnerabilities and presenting their actions as an attempt to help reduce her “mental stress”. The statement further alleged that the Danish Shaikh, despite being married, sexually abused her by promising marriage.

The woman told investigators that whenever she expressed concern about her future or whether her family would accept the relationship, the Shaikh reassured her by saying, “Don’t worry, believe me, Allah is with us. Stop listening to Bhagwan’s songs and going to the temple, your stress will be reduced.” He also allegedly encouraged her to recite the Tasbeeh, as per a PTI report.

The complainant further alleged that the Shaikh repeatedly told her that remembering Allah would lead to forgiveness of sins and increase in good deeds. According to her statement, he explained that reciting Astaghfar, a prayer seeking forgiveness from Allah, would help ease her mental stress.

She also told police that Shaikh encouraged her to watch videos and listen to sermons by Pakistani Islamic cleric and preacher Tariq Jamil as part of the process of familiarizing her with Islamic teachings.

The complainant alleged that Danish obtained detailed information about her finances, including access to her bank account details and UPI PIN, and was fully aware of the funds available in her accounts.

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The prosecution further stated that she was exposed to various aspects of Islamic teachings and religious narratives. According to the document, discussions with her included references to Prophet Ibrahim, Bakri Eid, Zamzam water, Qurbani and concepts such as Jannah (heaven) and Jahannum (hell).

The indictment includes testimony from 106 witnesses, including the complainant and her mother, employees and managers from TCS, members of the company’s Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) committee and investigators connected to the case.

The Maharashtra government has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after several women employees at an IT firm’s Nashik facility accused colleagues of exploitation, attempted forced religious conversion, outraging religious sentiments, harassment and mental harassment.

While one case was lodged at Deolali Camp police station, eight more FIRs were lodged at Mumbai Naka police station in Nashik.

Several complainants also alleged that they were coerced or coerced into following certain religious practices, including offering prayers, changing their dietary preferences, and adopting religious customs or symbols.

Meanwhile, TCS said it follows a long-standing zero-tolerance approach to harassment and coercive behavior of any kind. The company also suspended an employee accused of sexual harassment at its Nashik office pending further proceedings.

(With input from agencies)