Nashik, Apr 20 (PTI) A court in Maharashtra's Nashik district has declined to grant any interim protection from arrest to Nida Khan, a key accused in the ongoing sexual harassment and religious coercion probe at Tata Consultancy Services' (TCS) unit here.

During Monday's proceedings, Additional Sessions Judge K G Joshi heard arguments regarding her anticipatory bail application, which was filed on Saturday. Khan requested immediate protection from arrest because of her two-month pregnancy.

Her counsel, Rahul Kasliwal, urged the court to grant her interim relief while the primary bail plea remains pending.

However, the court chose not to issue an interim order for the time being and instead directed the Nashik Police and the complainant to file their formal responses to her application.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on April 27.

The Nashik police's Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing nine cases of molestation and harassment at the IT major's Nashik unit, has launched a search for Khan in different parts of Maharashtra.

The SIT has so far arrested eight employees of the BPO unit, including a female operations manager, by registering nine FIRs after allegations of exploitation, attempt of forceful conversion, hurting religious sentiments, molestation and mental harassment of female employees at the centre came to light earlier this month.

The Nashik police have formed three teams to trace and arrest Khan, who according to TCS, was working as an associate at the unit.

Khan is accused of targeting employees in a WhatsApp group, pressuring them to pray and eat non-vegetarian food.

According to the FIRs Khan allegedly advised women employees to dress and behave in accordance with Islamic traditions.

Some victims have also alleged that they were coerced or pressured into adopting religious practices, including praying, changing dietary habits, and adopting religious symbols.

Besides, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) provisions for sexual harassment and defamation, Khan has also been booked under relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The defence, however, contended that there were no allegations involving caste-based slurs or insults and hence, the SC/ST Act was not applicable.

In a related development, a magistrate court here remanded two other accused in the case, Raza Rafiq Memon (35) and Shafi Bikhan Sheikh (36), to 14-day judicial custody.

The others arrested in the case are currently in jail under judicial custody.

TCS has clarified that it has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form for a long time, and the employees allegedly involved in sexual harassment at the Nashik office have been suspended. PTI AVI COR ARU SKL RSY

Anticipatory bail in sexual harassment and alleged religious coercion probe denied interim protection as police responses were sought. Anticipatory bail in a sexual harassment and alleged religious coercion investigation was sought by Nida Khan on the ground of pregnancy. The court did not grant interim protection from arrest and directed the police and the complainant to file responses, with further hearing scheduled. The investigation also involved allegations of molestation, attempted forceful conversion, hurting religious sentiments, and related offences, while the defence disputed the applicability of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.