Cancel Pachauri's bail, police urge court

Delhi Police on Thursday requested the Delhi High Court to cancel the bail to TERI director general R.K. Pachauri, who is accused of sexually harassing a woman research analyst.

The police told Justice S.P. Garg that Pachauri was not cooperating in the probe.

Police said Pachauri, interrogated four times, had not given proper replies to the questions put to him and sought cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted by a lower court on March 21.

Pachauri submitted that there was nothing on record to suggest that he has ever influenced witnesses or anyone related to the case or interfered in the investigation.

The court posted the matter for final disposal on September 30.

The court was hearing a plea by the research analyst -- who has accused Pachauri of sexual harassment -- to cancel the bail granted to him.

Appearing for the analyst, advocate Prashant Mendiratta told the court that Pachauri was "influencing" witnesses and a "free and fair investigation" was not possible if he (Pachauri) roamed free.

The woman has alleged that there was "overwhelming evidence" that Pachauri misused the anticipatory bail granted to him.

Pachauri, currently is on leave from TERI, has requested modification of an earlier court order and permission to resume work from office premises.

After the sexual harassment complaint, Pachauri stepped down as chairperson of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in February and proceeded on leave from TERI.

He has denied the allegations against him.

Citing several SMS texts, e-mails and WhatsApp messages as evidence, the woman accused Pachauri of sexually harassing her soon after she joined TERI in September 2013 and filed a complaint in February this year.

Pachauri was granted anticipatory bail but was directed not to not enter the TERI office till investigation was complete and not to leave the country without the court's permission.