The Delhi Police will question environmentalist RK Pachauri over his alleged involvement in a sexual harassment case on Wednesday. A complaint was registered against him by a research associate working in his office. Sources said said that a team of three to four officer including one Inspector, Investigative officer arrived at his residence at around 14.30 on Wednesday along with a questionnaire of around 50 questions.
In the FIR, the complainant has claimed that Pachauri had sexually harassed her for nearly two years since she joined the organisation in September 2013 and filed a complaint in February. She also alleged that Pachauri had engaged in “sexually-laden conversations” with her over Email, SMS and WhatsApp Messages.
She had also given a written complaint to the institute’s governing council alleging lack of action against Pachauri and expressing fear for her work and career. Some senior TERI employees of showing a “biased role with respect to the police investigations”, “sensitising” junior workers when an inquiry is on, and not maintaining the requisite “neutrality” in the case, she said.
Later, an internal committee of TERI found Pachauri guilty. The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) found that Pachauri indeed made repeated attempts at establishing a personal bond with the young woman colleague which caused her “ harassement“.
The police had booked Pachauri on charges of molestation, stalking, sexual harassment (Sections 354, 354A, 354D of IPC) and criminal intimidation (Section 506 of IPC). The woman had submitted her complaint to the police on February 13 after approaching TERI on February 9.
Pachauri was granted anticipatory bail on March 21 but was directed not to enter the TERI office till the investigation is complete and not to leave the country without the court’s permission. He is currently Professor at Yale School of Forestry & Environment Studies as well as Honorary Professor of the University of Eastern Finland.