AIMIM's Abdul Mateen Patel accused in Nashik TCS case granted bail; Read how he sheltered prime accused Nida Khan in Sambhajinagar
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On Monday, August 17, Nashik court granted bail to Mateen Patel, AIMIM corporator from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, in a case linked to sexual and religious harassment at a business process outsourcing (BPO) firm associated with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
Additional Sessions Judge KR Joglekar, while approving Patel's bail, remarked that his continued custody wasn't necessary, pointing out that he had remained free throughout the police probe and that investigators had never requested his custodial interrogation.
The SIT, which is probing allegations of sexual and religious harassment at a workplace, had charged Patel with allegedly sheltering Nida Khan, one of eight people accused in the case, during the 42 days she evaded arrest starting March 26. An FIR was filed against Patel in May under applicable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, following Khan's arrest from a residence in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
According to Patel's lawyer, Ajaysinh Bhosale, the court approved bail on a personal surety of Rs 75,000. "The court has directed Patel to remain present at every hearing. He has also been asked to furnish copies of his PAN and Aadhaar cards and not change his residential address without informing the court in advance," Bhosale said.
Patel, who sheltered TCS accused Nida Khan, grilled by SIT
Patel was named as the fourth accused in the case. He was taken into police custody on May 8th for helping former TCS employee and key accused, Nida Khan, evade police action. Later on May 13th, the Municipal Corporation in the city of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar demolished his illegal 600-square-foot house and an associated office in Kausar Park. The Corporation stated that Patel had constructed the property illegally, without obtaining the necessary authorizations.
Who is Nida Khan, whom Patel aided in evading police action
Nida was arrested by the Nashik Police on May 8th for her key role in sexually harassing Hindu women working at TCS, mentally torturing them, and forcing them to convert to Islam. What makes the case particularly alarming is the calculated, methodical nature of the alleged conduct; this was not a single incident, but a sustained operation carried out under the cover of a corporate environment.
The case came to light after a woman employee filed a complaint at the Deolali Camp Police Station. As more victims came forward, a clear and disturbing pattern began to emerge. The accused allegedly created multiple WhatsApp groups and smaller internal communication circles to engage with colleagues and gradually influence them. Victims claimed that individuals were shortlisted based on personal vulnerabilities such as emotional stress or family issues.
The prosecution informed the court that the investigation had expanded beyond Nashik, with alleged links to Malegaon and Malaysia. Khan tried to influence one of the complainants to adopt Islam by teaching her religious practices. The operational details are even more disturbing. She allegedly tried to change the victim's name to "Haniya," provided her with a burqa and Islamic religious books (now seized by police), installed religious apps on her phone, and shared online content promoting conversion. Police sources say Khan repeatedly warned the victim of consequences for refusal.
The prosecution also alleged that co-accused Danish Sheikh had taken possession of the complainant's educational and other important documents, which were to be handed over to a team in Malegaon as part of the plan. This suggests a network operating well beyond the walls of a single BPO office.
Additional Sessions Judge KR Joglekar, while approving Patel's bail, remarked that his continued custody wasn't necessary, pointing out that he had remained free throughout the police probe and that investigators had never requested his custodial interrogation.
Patel was taken into custody on August 7 by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Nashik city police, after the court had issued a warrant for his arrest when he failed to show up on July 28 despite being duly summoned.
AIMIM's Abdul Mateen Patel (L), accused Nida Khan (R) (Image- HT, NDTV)
The SIT, which is probing allegations of sexual and religious harassment at a workplace, had charged Patel with allegedly sheltering Nida Khan, one of eight people accused in the case, during the 42 days she evaded arrest starting March 26. An FIR was filed against Patel in May under applicable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, following Khan's arrest from a residence in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
According to Patel's lawyer, Ajaysinh Bhosale, the court approved bail on a personal surety of Rs 75,000. "The court has directed Patel to remain present at every hearing. He has also been asked to furnish copies of his PAN and Aadhaar cards and not change his residential address without informing the court in advance," Bhosale said.
Patel, who sheltered TCS accused Nida Khan, grilled by SIT
Nashik police on May 25 interrogated AIMIM's Mateen Patel for more than seven hours in connection with his role in arranging shelter for Nida Khan. Authorities also questioned Hanif Khan, at whose residence Khan was discovered to have been staying. The interrogation, which took place at the Nashik police commissionerate and began at approximately 10 am, centered on the circumstances under which the absconding woman came into contact with Patel, as well as the nature of his association with Khan.
#WATCH | Nashik TCS case | Nashik CP Sandeep Karnik says, "... Yesterday, in a joint operation by Nashik Police and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Police, accused Nida Khan was arrested from the Naregao area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. It turns out that the local corporator… pic.twitter.com/4n6UIlP6Jo
— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026
Patel was named as the fourth accused in the case. He was taken into police custody on May 8th for helping former TCS employee and key accused, Nida Khan, evade police action. Later on May 13th, the Municipal Corporation in the city of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar demolished his illegal 600-square-foot house and an associated office in Kausar Park. The Corporation stated that Patel had constructed the property illegally, without obtaining the necessary authorizations.
Who is Nida Khan, whom Patel aided in evading police action
Nida Khan was, until recently, a process associate employed at the Nashik unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), one of India's largest and most globally recognized IT companies. By most outward measures, she appeared to be an ordinary mid-level employee. But for months, and according to some victims, years, she allegedly used her position at the workplace to orchestrate something far more sinister, a systematic campaign of religious coercion, psychological harassment, and sexual exploitation targeting her female colleagues.
Nida was arrested by the Nashik Police on May 8th for her key role in sexually harassing Hindu women working at TCS, mentally torturing them, and forcing them to convert to Islam. What makes the case particularly alarming is the calculated, methodical nature of the alleged conduct; this was not a single incident, but a sustained operation carried out under the cover of a corporate environment.
In early 2026, multiple employees at the TCS Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) campus in Nashik, Maharashtra, filed FIRs alleging sustained sexual harassment and religious coercion by several team leaders. The allegations reportedly span from 2022 to 2026, pointing to prolonged misconduct within the workplace.
The case came to light after a woman employee filed a complaint at the Deolali Camp Police Station. As more victims came forward, a clear and disturbing pattern began to emerge. The accused allegedly created multiple WhatsApp groups and smaller internal communication circles to engage with colleagues and gradually influence them. Victims claimed that individuals were shortlisted based on personal vulnerabilities such as emotional stress or family issues.
Several victims claimed that repeated complaints had been made to the company's human resources department, including over 78 emails and multiple phone calls, but no effective action was taken. The allegations against Nida Khan herself are chilling in their specificity. According to the FIR, Khan allegedly advised women employees to dress and behave in accordance with Islamic traditions. Some complainants alleged that they were coerced or pressured into adopting religious practices, including praying, changing dietary habits, and adopting religious symbols.
ALSO READ: AIMIM's Abdul Mateen Patel, who sheltered Nida Khan in Chh Sambhajinagar arrested
The prosecution informed the court that the investigation had expanded beyond Nashik, with alleged links to Malegaon and Malaysia. Khan tried to influence one of the complainants to adopt Islam by teaching her religious practices. The operational details are even more disturbing. She allegedly tried to change the victim's name to "Haniya," provided her with a burqa and Islamic religious books (now seized by police), installed religious apps on her phone, and shared online content promoting conversion. Police sources say Khan repeatedly warned the victim of consequences for refusal.
The prosecution also alleged that co-accused Danish Sheikh had taken possession of the complainant's educational and other important documents, which were to be handed over to a team in Malegaon as part of the plan. This suggests a network operating well beyond the walls of a single BPO office.