Custody of four TCS employees extended till May 2

Nashik: A magisterial court on Wednesday extended the police custody of four TCS employees, arrested by a special investigation team probing cases of sexual harassment and hurting religious sentiments, by three more days, till May 2.The prosecution informed additional chief judicial magistrate D R Badave that the investigation was at a crucial stage and continued interrogation of the accused was necessary, seeking an extension of custody. Public prosecutor Ajay Misar told the court that the police were in the middle of the probe and would require the accused from time to time for questioning. While the prosecution sought an eight-day extension, the court granted custody for three days.The four accused were arrested on April 23 after being transferred from judicial custody in other cases. They were booked by the Mumbai Naka police under BNS sections 75 (sexual harassment), 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 302 (uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings). They were initially remanded in police custody till April 29.The police have registered a total of nine cases related to sexual harassment and alleged religious coercion at the company. Of these, one case is registered with the Deolali Camp police station and eight cases with the Mumbai Naka police station.The present case was lodged by a male employee of the firm. Sexual harassment charges were included after his wife, who also worked at the company, allegedly faced harassment by the accused employees.