TCS case | Nida Khan subjected to a trial by media, says Owaisi

Nida Khan, an accused in the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) rape, sexual exploitation and forced conversion case, is being subjected to a trial by media, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi said in Chhatrapati Sambhajingar on Saturday (May 9, 2027).

Mr. Owaisi was speaking at a press conference during his visit to the city. Alleging a “conspiracy to harass educated Muslim men and women”, he said they believed that the judiciary would deliver justice in the case. The complainant in the matter was associated with the ruling party, he said.

“There are nine FIRs (First Information Reports) registered in the matter. Nida Khan has been accused of hurting religious sentiments in one of them. She was not in the HR (Human Resources team) of TCS. Even before the complaint was filed, she was transferred. The complainant is associated with the ruling party. Nobody can give a verdict in the matter. We condemn this media trial,” Mr. Owaisi said.

He cited past cases of the judiciary coming to the rescue of Muslim youth booked under allegedly false accusations. Nobody could be held guilty unless duly proven in the court of law, the AIMIM leader said.

Slamming the police for claiming the recovery of burqa, hijab and some Muslim religious books, he asked why this was a crime. “What does finding a burqa mean? Every Muslim household will have a burqa, a Quran, other religious books. If you want justice, don’t do trial by media. This is dangerous,” he said.

Mr. Owaisi refused to answer questions regarding the accusation by the police of harbouring the accused, asking the court to decide on the matter.

Meanwhile, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar’s guardian Minister Sanjay Shirsat held a press conference to accuse the AIMIM leader Imtiyaz Jaleel of helping Ms. Khan, seeking a thorough Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, and alleging ‘love jihad’. Mr. Shirsat said he had written to the Chief Minister seeking a SIT probe against those who had helped Ms. Khan.

“The details emerging from the case are shocking. Nida Khan first went to Mumbra, and later, Imtiaz Jaleel met her in Nashik, following which he made a statement supporting her,” he alleged. Mr. Jaleel had pressured his party’s corporator, Mateen Majid Patel, to help Ms. Khan, he claimed. There was a ‘love jihad’ conspiracy which needed to be unearthed, he alleged.