A Nashik court has granted bail to a senior Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) employee arrested in connection with a workplace sexual harassment case registered earlier this year. The employee, who was named as a co-accused, was released on bail after the court imposed conditions, including a direction not to tamper with evidence or influence prosecution witnesses.
The employee was arrested on April 10 from her residence in Pune following an FIR registered at Mumbai Naka police station.
Court grants bail on personal bond
Additional Sessions Judge A V Kharkar granted bail to the accused on Tuesday. According to defence lawyer Mayur Deshpande, the court granted bail on:
- A personal bond of Rs 50,000
- One surety
- A condition prohibiting the accused from tampering with evidence or attempting to influence prosecution witnesses
The detailed court order was not available until Tuesday evening, according to The Times of India.
Case registered under multiple BNS provisions
The employee was among three people arrested after an FIR was registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section 75 relating to sexual harassment
- Section 78 relating to stalking
- Section 79 relating to insulting the modesty of a woman
- Section 49 relating to abetment
Other provisions were also invoked in the case.
Defence cites limited role in the case
During the bail hearing, defence advocates Mayur Deshpande and V R Deshpande submitted that the employee had been charged only with abetment.
According to the defence, the employee was posted in Pune and had no direct connection with the functioning of TCS's Nashik office.
The defence also submitted that the complainant had access to the company's internal grievance mechanism under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act. It further stated that the complainant had raised the alleged incidents with two other company officials in 2023, although those individuals were not named as accused in the FIR.
Prosecution opposes bail
The prosecution opposed the bail application.
According to Additional Public Prosecutor Vijay Gaikwad, the employee's alleged inaction and oversight enabled incidents of sexual harassment to continue at the company's Nashik facility.
The court granted bail after hearing submissions from both sides.
Proceedings continue against remaining accused
According to The Times of India, the other two accused arrested in the case have not been granted bail so far.
The case remains under judicial process, with the detailed order from the court awaited.