Pachauri gets temporary respite in sex abuse case

The move comes as a temporary respite for Pachauri, who has vehemently denied the allegations and fought to retain control over the organisation.

Two days after the Delhi Police filed a charge sheet against TERI’s executive vice-chairman RK Pachauri in connection with a sexual harassment case against a former woman colleague, the Delhi high court on Friday dismissed the woman’s plea to cancel the anticipatory bail granted to him.

Two days after the Delhi Police filed a 1,400-page charge sheet against TERI’s executive vice-chairman RK Pachauri in connection with an alleged sexual harassment case against a former woman colleague, the Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed the woman’s plea to cancel the anticipatory bail granted to him. (HT File Photo)

The HC order is a temporary respite for Pachauri, who has denied the allegations and has fought to retain control over The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

Justice SP Garg, dismissing the plea of the woman, said the court’s March 21, 2015, order, granting anticipatory bail to Pachauri, was “based upon fair appraisal of the material and all the relevant aspect of the matter have been considered minutely”.

“Petitioner’s (woman) counsel has failed to impress as far as what purpose custodial interrogation of Pachauri is required. While granting anticipatory bail to Pachauri, safeguarding the petitioner’s interest and that of the investigating agency, stringent conditions have been imposed upon the accused,” the HC said.

The woman had alleged in her plea that a “free and fair investigation” cannot be carried out if Pachauri was “allowed to roam around freely”.

Pachuari had said there was “nothing on record to suggest that free and fair probe is not possible in the present case”.

However, with the Delhi police’s chargesheet saying there is “sufficient evidence” against Pachauri that he sexually harassed, stalked and threatened the woman, the relief could be short-lived.