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Delhi Police files FIR against RK Pachauri on charges of sexual harassment
A 29-year-old woman researcher has accused Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, the director-general of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), of sexually harassing her.
New Delhi: A 29-year-old woman researcher has accused Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, the director-general of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), of sexually harassing her.
As per the first information report (FIR) registered at the Lodhi Colony Police Station on Wednesday night, Pachauri committed offences under Sections 354, 354A, 354D, 506 of IPC, which deal with outraging the modesty of a woman, sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation, respectively, a daily said on Thursday.
The Delhi High Court had yesterday directed the 75-year-old scientist to join the probe into charges of alleged sexual harassment "as and when required". The court also lifted its order restraining publication of reports on the alleged harassment complaint by the woman research analyst to Delhi Police.
The court posted the matter for April 8 for further order.
Pachauri had moved the High Court seeking a restraining order on publication of reports relating to the alleged complaint. On February 17, the court restrained publication of news on the issue, but the next day (February 18), modified the order and lifted the ban.
Meanwhile, Pachauri, whose Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has shared the Nobel Peace Prize, moved anticipatory bail plea before the High Court. Justice SP Garg, however asked him to move the proper forum - the sessions court.
As per news reports, the complaint against Pachauri states that the woman researcher joined TERI in late 2013. The scientist started misbehaving with the woman researcher shortly afterwards.
"These include unwanted physical advances as well as e-mails, text and WhatsApp messages, as per the complaint. The complaint alleges that Pachauri persisted in his conduct, even after the complainant asked for a halt to the alleged messages. The research analyst had also moved TERI over the issue on February 9," the daily added.
Denying the allegations, Pachauri has claimed that his e-mail IDs, mobile phone and WhatsApp messages have been hacked.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Pachauri said it will “not be prudent or appropriate to comment anything on the matter pending adjudication before the Hon'ble Delhi High Court”.