Court to consider chargesheet against Pachauri today

A court in New Delhi will consider filing a charge-sheet today against environmentalist R.K. Pachauri who is embroiled in charges of sexually harassing a colleague in The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

Earlier, Delhi Police has chargesheeted the former executive chairman of TERI under various sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty, sexual harassment, stalking, criminal intimidation and word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman.

The police have cited around 23 prosecution witnesses and several SMS texts, e-mails and WhatsApp messages exchanged between the accused and victim as evidence to support their case.

Pachauri has been charged with sexual harassment by a woman researcher who used to work directly under the veteran climate scientist and later resigned from her job as she felt 'let down' by TERI. She has now moved to another organisation.

Despite being enmeshed inallegations of multiple sexual harassment, he was elevated to the newly created post of the Executive Vice Chairman on February 8, however, after severe criticism, TERI asked him to proceed on indefinite leave on February 12.