Never pressured TERI to settle case, Pachauri tells high court

New Delhi, February 10

TERI's newly appointed executive vice-chairman RK Pachauri has claimed he never pressured the organisation into settling the “sexual harassment” charges against him.

In his reply filed before the Delhi High court in response to new allegations made by a woman, Pachauri said: "The answering respondent (Pachauri) has never exercised any pressure upon TERI and its officials. It is matter of record that answering Respondent was away from TERI from February, 2015 till July, 2015 and it was only after the permission of the Sessions Court that he was allowed to enter the office.”

"The complainant as well as the counsel went live on news channels on January 27, 2016… All this was being done when even the application was not even before this Hon'ble Court for hearing," he claimed.

Pachauri wanted the petition dismissed, claiming it was “motivated”.

Pachauri was appointed TERI’s executive vice- chairman — a position created especially for him — two days ago.

On January 28, the high court had asked Pachauri to respond to the new application moved by the complainant.

The complainant —formerly a research analyst in TERI who had previously accused Pachauri of making sexual advances — claimed he was pressuring the organisation to settle the case.

She claimed Pachauri had even asked a colleague to persuade her to settle the case outside court.

The 29-year-old woman had moved the application a day before the court was given its verdict on her plea seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to Pachauri by a lower court last year.

The court has deferred its order.

Pachauri was booked for sexual harassment, molestation and criminal intimidation on February 13, 2015. — PTI