On Tuesday, R K Pachauri, the TERI executive vice-chairman was charged with outraging the modesty and sexual harassment against a woman who was his former colleague. The complainant was research associate in the same office. The complaint was that the accused sexually harassed the lady for two years from September 2013, after she joined the organization. It was also alleged that the accused had sexually laden talks with her through SMS and email. Hence the complaint was initiated before the Lodhy Colony police station.
At first, the woman had resigned from TERI alleging that she was not treated properly. Though TERI denied such allegations, after long period, Pachauri was compelled to take leave from TERI on these incidents. Pachauri was also accused of criminal intimidation and stalking in addition to other two charges. The case was posted on April 23 by Shivani Chauhan, Metropolitan Magistrate before whom the charge sheet was filed. The Delhi police produced 23 prosecution witnesses out of which some of them were present. They were former employees of TERI. The police also produced some SMS, emails and Whats App messages between Pachauri and the woman.
In the charge sheet, Pachauri was charged with assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty punishable under Section 354 of IPC, sexual harassment punishable under Section 354 A IPC, stalking punishable under Section 354 D of IPC and word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman punishable under Section 509 of IPC. In the report filed by the police before the high court, it is stated that a compromise talk is being carried out with the victim. In the status report, the victim asked to set aside the petition filed by the accused for anticipatory bail. Last year, Pachauri was granted anticipatory bail on March 21.
Adv. Jewel Panicker