Abdul Mateen Patel, an AIMIM councillor from Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, has been detained by the Nashik Crime Branch on charges of helping key accused Nida Khan evade police action in the TCS Nashik conversion and sexual harassment case.
The development came just a day after Nida Khan — a former TCS telecaller — was arrested after remaining absconding for 25 days.
Patel was taken into custody on Friday (May 8, 2026) after a case was registered against him under Section 249 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) , which deals with assisting an offender. Police are currently questioning him as part of the ongoing investigation.
Who Is Abdul Mateen Patel and Why Was He Detained?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Abdul Mateen Patel |
| Position | AIMIM councillor |
| Constituency area | Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar |
| Allegation | Helped Nida Khan evade police |
| Legal section | BNS Section 249 (assisting an offender) |
| Status | Detained, being questioned |
Police sources said the locality from where Nida Khan was detained falls within the constituency represented by Patel, which gave rise to scrutiny over his alleged role in helping her.
Nida Khan was traced to an apartment in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar where she was allegedly staying with relatives. She was produced before a local court on a transfer warrant and later brought to Nashik by police.
Who Is Nida Khan? What Are the Allegations Against Her?
Nida Khan was a telecaller at the TCS Nashik BPO unit, not an HR official as initially believed. She was arrested on Thursday (May 7, 2026) after being on the run for 25 days.
Investigators have accused her of:
- Hurting religious sentiments
- Attempting religious conversion
- Discouraging survivors from filing complaints
- Assisting accused people in alleged rape and sexual exploitation cases linked to the TCS Nashik unit
What Is the TCS Nashik Conversion Case?
The controversy centres around a TCS-linked BPO unit in Nashik, where several women employees — aged between 18 and 25 — alleged serious misconduct over several years.
Key Allegations Made by Complainants:
| Nature of Allegation | Details |
|---|---|
| Sexual harassment | Molestation, stalking, coercion by senior colleagues and team leaders |
| Religious conversion attempts | Pressured to perform namaz, encouraged to wear hijab and burqa |
| Dietary coercion | Forced to consume non-vegetarian food |
| Derogatory remarks | Against Hindu religious practices and deities inside the workplace |
| Sexual exploitation | Accused employees allegedly exploited women on pretext of marriage |
How Many FIRs and Accused?
- At least nine FIRs have been registered
- Multiple accused named, including:
- Danish Sheikh
- Tausif Attar (allegedly promised marriage before sexual relations)
- Raza Memon
- Shahrukh Qureshi
- Shafi Shaikh
- Asif Ansari
- Nida Khan
AIMIM Leader Imtiaz Jaleel Reacts
Following Nida Khan’s arrest, AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel claimed that a “false atmosphere” was being created around the case. He accused sections of the media of conducting a trial before the courts had reached any conclusion.
Jaleel stated:
“Nida Khan had maintained her innocence when I first met her family. Every accused person has the legal right to seek relief from courts.”
He also:
- Targeted Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat, asserting that ministers should not interfere in police investigations
- Alleged attempts to politicise the matter
- Stressed that there is a clear distinction between an accused and a convicted person
- Argued that allegations alone should not be treated as proof of guilt
What Happens Next?
- Police questioning of Abdul Mateen Patel continues
- Further investigation into who else may have aided Nida Khan
- Court proceedings against Nida Khan and other accused
- Potential for more arrests based on evidence gathered
Case Takes Political Turn
The detention of an elected AIMIM councillor has added a political dimension to an already sensitive case involving allegations of religious conversion, sexual harassment, and exploitation at a major corporate BPO unit.
With nine FIRs registered, multiple accused, and now allegations of police evasion, the TCS Nashik case continues to unfold as one of Maharashtra’s most controversial workplace misconduct investigations.
