HC denies Pachauri permission to travel abroad

The Delhi High Court on Thursday denied permission to environmentalist R.K. Pachauri, accused in a sexual harassment case, to travel abroad to attend a Global Water Summit.

Pachauri had moved the court seeking permission to go to Greece April 26-29 for the summit.

Justice S.P. Garg denied relief to Pachauri after Delhi Police vehemently opposed his plea and said his presence was not required at the summit and he may abuse the process of law if allowed to go abroad.

"I don't think Pachauri's presence is required there," Justice Garg said after which the plea was withdrawn by Pachauri's counsel.

Pachauri was granted anticipatory bail on March 21 but was directed not to leave the country without the court's permission.

He was also directed not to visit the premises of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

The allegation against Pachauri was made by a woman research analyst.

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

Pachauri stepped down as chairperson of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in February and proceeded on leave from TERI, where he was the director general. But he has denied the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him.

During the hearing, advocate Sanjeev Bhandari, appearing for police, opposed Pachauri's plea, saying they were also considering filing a plea for cancelling his bail.

Police said the investigation was at a crucial stage and a visit abroad would hamper the probe.