Pachauri questioned in sexual harassment case

Noted environmentalist R.K. Pachauri, who faces charges of molestation and sexual harassment of a junior colleague at environment think-tank TERI, was questioned by the Delhi Police on Wednesday for the first time in the case.

A team of officials including an inspector, the investigating officer of the case, arrived at Pachauri's residence on Wednesday afternoon and asked him over 50 questions.

A 29-year-old research associate working in Pachauri's office filed a complaint of sexual harassment against him at Lodhi Colony Police station in south Delhi on February 13 after approaching The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on February 9.

The Delhi Police later booked Pachauri on charges of molestation, stalking, sexual harassment and criminal intimidation as the complainant had claimed that she was harassed by him for nearly two years since she joined the organisation in September 2013.

She also alleged that Pachauri had engaged in "sexually-laden conversations" with her over email and SMS.

Pachauri was forced to step down as chairperson of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in February and proceeded on leave from TERI after the sexual harassment complaint but he has denied the allegations.