Mumbai: A businessman from Powai was allegedly blackmailed by his friend, who demanded ₹80 lakh and sexual favours from his wife. The accused, identified as John Pereira, claimed to possess compromising videos of the businessman and objectionable photos of his wife and her friends.

According to reports, Pereira made WhatsApp calls to threaten the businessman, warning that he would share the images and videos with the victim’s family, friends, and colleagues if his demands were not met. The couple was allegedly harassed for six months, from August 2024 to January 2025.

The businessman eventually approached the police and lodged a complaint at Powai Police Station. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the matter has been transferred to DN Nagar Police for further investigation. No arrests have been made so far.

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Nashik (PTI): Weeks after she went into hiding, a female employee of the TCS unit in Nashik, accused in a case related to alleged religious conversion and sexual harassment of some women colleagues, has been arrested, police said.

Nida Khan was held on Thursday in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik said.

Khan is an accused in the Deolali Camp police station crime register number 156/26 here, he said.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nashik police is probing nine cases of molestation and harassment at the IT major’s Nashik unit.

It had arrested eight persons, including a female operations manager, by registering nine FIRs after allegations of exploitation, attempt of forceful conversion, hurting religious sentiments, molestation and mental harassment of female employees at the TCS unit came to light.

The SIT had launched a search for Khan in different parts of Maharashtra. She is accused of targeting employees in a WhatsApp group, pressuring them to pray and eat non-vegetarian food.

According to the FIR, Khan allegedly advised women employees to dress and behave in accordance with Islamic traditions.

Some complainants have also alleged that they were coerced or pressured into adopting religious practices, including praying, changing dietary habits, and adopting religious symbols.

Besides Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) provisions for sexual harassment and defamation, Khan has also been booked under relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as the complainant belongs to a Scheduled Caste.

On April 18, she had moved the Nashik court seeking anticipatory bail and interim protection from arrest pending the plea hearing, citing her pregnancy. Her anticipatory bail plea was rejected by a court here on May 2.

TCS has clarified that it has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form for a long time, and the employees allegedly involved in sexual harassment at the Nashik office have been suspended.