Sexual harassment case: Big relief for Pachauri; can enter TERI offices

New Delhi: TERI Director General RK Pachauri, accused of sexual harassment by a woman employee, was on Friday allowed by a Delhi court to enter his office premises except the head office and a branch in Gurgaon. Additional Sessions Judge Raj Kumar Tripathi allowed the plea to modify the earlier order restricting his entry into the offices of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

The court had on March 21, granted Pachauri anticipatory bail while imposing the conditions that he will join the probe as and when called and not enter the TERI office premises. The police had on Thursday sought cancellation of the anticipatory bail to Pachauri, saying he was influencing witnesses and misusing the liberty of bail, a charge denied him. He said that if Pachauri is allowed to enter the office, he can influence witnesses. "Several witnesses, mostly the employees of TERI office at Lodhi Road, are to be examined. Some witnesses of TERI office at Defence Colony are also to be examined. So if the accused is allowed to enter office, there is possibility that he may try to influence them," IO said.