RK Pachauri, Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), accused of sexual harassment by a woman employee, was on Friday allowed by a Delhi court to enter his office premises except the head office here and a branch in Gurgaon.
Additional Sessions Judge Raj Kumar Tripathi allowed the plea to modify the earlier order restricting his entry into the offices of TERI.
On March 21, the court had granted Pachauri anticipatory bail while imposing the conditions that he will join the probe as and when called and not enter the TERI office premises. On Thursday, the police had sought cancellation of the anticipatory bail to Pachauri, saying he was influencing witnesses and misusing the liberty of bail, a charge denied by him.
During the hearing, the investigating officer opposed Pachauri’s plea saying he had been examined four times but there was no cooperation from him in the investigation. He said that if Pachauri was allowed to enter the office, he could influence the witnesses. “Several witnesses, mostly the employees of TERI office at Lodhi Road, are to be examined. Some witnesses of TERI office at Defence Colony are also to be examined. So if the accused is allowed to enter office, there is possibility that he may try to influence them,” the IO said.
Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, appearing for Pachauri, informed the court that Delhi high court had on Thursday adjourned the plea of the complainant challenging the anticipatory bail granted to him till September 30. He said while adjourning the matter, the high court had observed that it was not concerned with what was going on in the trial court proceedings.
The counsel submitted that Pachauri had joined the probe four times but still the IO says he has not cooperated with the investigation.
“I have every right to keep silent. Everything was videographed and one can see how I have
cooperated with the investigation,” he said.
The senior advocate alleged that the IO’s statement about Pachauri not cooperating with the investigation and influencing the witnesses was under pressure from complainant.