Court allows Pachauri's plea but restrains him from entering TERI headquarters (Update)

A Delhi Court on Friday allowed environmentalist R.K. Pachauri, who has been accused of sexual harassment, to go to any TERI office all over India except the headquarters in Lodhi Road and another branch in Gurgaon.

The Saket Sessions Court passed this order after hearing Pachauri's application that he should be allowed to rejoin work at TERI.

The Delhi Police had earlier sought cancellation of Pachauri's bail plea, saying he was influencing witnesses and misusing the liberty of bail.

The Delhi Police in its plea before bench of the Delhi High Court submitted that Pachauri was evasive during interrogation and not cooperating with probe agencies, as it supported the alleged victim's plea that the bail granted to him should be cancelled.

The Delhi High Court later said that it will not interfere with the proceedings of the Saket Sessions Court, which is scheduled to hear Pachauri's plea today to rejoin TERI.

Pachauri has, however, so far denied the charges and submitted that there was nothing on record to suggest that he has ever influenced witnesses or any other persons related to the case or interfered in the probe.

Pachauri quit as chair of the United Nations panel of climate scientists in February, ending 13 years in charge of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning group, after a 29-year-old female employee accused him of sexual harassment.

With investigations underway, a Delhi court order later prohibited him from entering TERI's premises or contacting any of the think-tank's officials.

The woman, a researcher, claims the 74-year-old scientist began harassing her soon after she joined TERI in September 2013.

She has accused Pachauri of harassing her via email, Whatsapp and text messaging. Her lawyers say Pachauri persisted despite her requests that he stop.

Last month, Pachauri was granted anticipatory bail in the case. He had sought permission to travel abroad to attend a summit, which, was refused by a sessions court.