Former Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), R.K. Pachauri, accused of sexually harassing a 29-year old researcher in February last year, is in fresh trouble. A male researcher has now filed a complaint with the Delhi police alleging pressure from seniors in TERI to ‘ask’ the complainant to settle the case out of court. According to reports, this researcher – who has resigned from the organisation – was told that he should reach out to his lady friend and get her to settle it out of court as this will be good for her.
While considering a fresh application moved by the complainant in the Delhi High Court, the court has sought the response of police on the plea. The court has also asked Pachauri to explain his stand on the fresh application. The matter has been fixed for further hearing on February 11. The woman researcher moved the application a day before the court was to pronounce its verdict on her plea seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to Pachauri by a lower court on March 21 last year.
In February last year, the woman researcher had registered an FIR in Delhi, alleging that the Director General of TERI had committed offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, which deal with outraging the modesty of a woman, sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation. The woman researcher had quit the organisation shortly after.
Meanwhile, Dr Ajay Mathur is expected to take over as the new Director General of TERI shortly. Although he was appointed to the post in June 2015, he has not been relieved of his existing duties at Bureau of Energy Efficiency so far.