The Nashik police Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday submitted a comprehensive 1,500-page chargesheet in the first TCS sexual harassment and hurting religious sentiments case. The chargesheet was filed before the special court of Nashik Road sessions judge Kedar Joshi against four accused individuals.
Charges Invoked
Based on the investigation conducted so far, the police have invoked multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the accused. These include Section 61(2) (party to criminal conspiracy), Section 64 (rape), Section 68 (sexual intercourse by a person in authority), Section 69 (sexual intercourse obtained by deceitful means or a false promise to marry), Section 75 (sexual harassment), Section 46 (abetting), Section 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), Section 238 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender), Section 249 (harbouring offender), and Section 3(5) (common intention).
In addition, relevant charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 have been included in the chargesheet. This case stems from an FIR registered on March 26 based on the complaint of a woman TCS employee at the Deolali Camp police station.
Formation of SIT
Nashik commissioner of police Sandeep Karnik constituted the SIT to investigate this case along with eight other related cases of sexual harassment and hurting religious sentiments at the multinational company. Commissioner Karnik stated, "The case was of an extremely serious nature. It involved the sexual harassment and exploitation of women at a workplace where victims were targeted based on their ethnicity. Taking into account the gravity of these offences, the SIT was formed to ensure a thorough investigation."
Evidence and Witnesses
Assistant commissioner of police (crime) Sandeep Mitke, who heads the SIT, provided details about the chargesheet. He said, "Statements of 17 witnesses were recorded before the Judicial Magistrate First Class as per Section 183 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The chargesheet also comprises medical examination reports of the victim and the accused, apart from evidence of forced conversion of the victim and hurting religious sentiments."
The police have seized original documents that the accused had taken from the victim to change her name. Other evidence included in the chargesheet are the spot panchnama of the crime scene, bank statements of the accused, caste certificates, the vehicle used in the crime, and an identification parade.
Ongoing Investigation
Mitke emphasized that the chargesheet has been filed based on the evidence and witness statements obtained during the investigation, but the probe will continue. A supplementary chargesheet will be filed as per Section 193(9) of the BNSS after obtaining additional evidence. The accused arrested in the case remain in custody as the court has rejected their bail applications. Ajay Misar is serving as the special public prosecutor in this case.
