Nashik, May 2 (PTI) A court in Nashik on Saturday rejected the anticipatory bail application of Nida Khan, an accused in a case related to alleged sexual harassment and forcible religious conversion at the Nashik unit of TCS, after the prosecution stressed the need for her custodial interrogation.

"The offence is a serious one, Nida Khan is one of the prime accused and therefore her custodial interrogation is necessary. The court rejected Nida Khan's bail application today. The final order will be uploaded soon," public prosecutor Ajay Misar told reporters.

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

Khan had sought pre-arrest bail, citing her pregnancy.

A search is underway for Khan in different parts of Maharashtra, police had said.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nashik Police is probing nine cases of sexual harassment of some female employees at the IT major's Nashik unit by their male colleagues. The SIT has arrested eight persons, including a female operations manager, by registering nine FIRs.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) had last month stated that the firm has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form for a long time. PTI COR NSK

Anticipatory bail and custodial interrogation in alleged harassment and forced conversion case at a TCS unit. Anticipatory bail was sought by an accused in a case involving alleged sexual harassment and forcible religious conversion at the Nashik unit of TCS. The prosecution opposed pre-arrest protection on the ground that the offence was serious and that custodial interrogation was necessary because the applicant was described as one of the prime accused. The FIR alleged that she advised women employees to dress and behave in accordance with Islamic traditions.