Pachauri records statement in defamation case

Former TERI chief R.K. Pachauri recorded before a court here on Friday his statement in a defamation case which he has filed against lawyer Vrinda Grover and others.

Pachauri told court-appointed local commissioner Santosh Mishra that defamatory statements have caused enormous harm to his reputation as well as financial condition. He said that he is not earning any money after the defamatory statements and his close friends and supporters have deserted him.

The environmentalist was recording his statement as complainant witness in the case which remained inconclusive and was adjourned for Saturday.

Pachauri, accused of sexually harassing a colleague in The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), has filed a Rs 1 crore civil defamation suit against Grover and another woman for allegedly making defamatory statements against him outside the court to the media. He sought damages for "false and frivolous allegations".

On February 26, a trial court passed an order making it mandatory for the media houses to publish or telecast the coverage of the case with a rider "in any court the allegations have not been proved and they may not be correct".

--IANS

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