RK Pachauri has been accused of sexually harassing a female colleague in 2015.
Highlights
- RK Pachauri has been accused of sexually harassing a female colleague
- The environmentalist has been on indefinite leave from TERI
- Delhi court has fixed July 11 for further hearing
A court in Delhi on Saturday took cognizance of a charge-sheet filed against environmentalist RK Pachauri, accused of sexually harassing a colleague in The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
Metropolitan Magistrate Shivani Chauhan considered the charge-sheet and fixed July 11 for further hearing.
"The court is satisfied that there is sufficient material to proceed against accused R K Pachauri under sections 354-A, 354-B, 354-D, 509 and 341 of IPC. Cognizance taken accordingly... Let the accused be summoned for the next date i.e. July 11," Metropolitan Magistrate Shivani Chauhan said.
"Charge sheet perused. Heard. There are allegations against the accused that he made sexually coloured remarks upon the complainant on several occasions. He touched the complainant inappropriately despite a clear expression of disapproval from her side. He sent inappropriate SMSes and WhatsApp messages to the complainant," the Metropolitan Magistrate said.
Delhi Police had on March 1 filed an over 1,400-page charge sheet in the court against Pachauri under sections 354-A (sexual harassment), 354-B(assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 354-D (stalking), 509(word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 341 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code.
Mr Pachauri was accused of sexually harassing a female colleague in 2015. He stepped down as chairperson of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in February last year and proceeded on leave from TERI, where he was the director general.
In November, the woman researcher who accused him of sexual harassment quit her job at TERI, alleging she was treated badly. TERI denied the charge.
On February 8, Mr Pachauri was appointed executive vice chairman of the organisation. Following severe criticism, TERI on February 12 asked him to proceed on indefinite leave.