Delhi's Saket Court orders framing of charges against RK Pachauri in sexual harassment case

Delhi's Saket Court on Friday ordered framing of charges against former TERI chief RK Pachauri in connection with a sexual harassment case. The charges against Pachauri will be framed under Section 354 - outraging modesty of a woman, Section 354A - sexual harassment, Section 509 - words used to outrage the modesty of a woman. The charges will be framed against him in the next hearing of the case, on October 20. The court pronounced the orders despite Pachauri’s absence. Pachauri is currently not in India.

The Saket court has also discharged RK Pachauri from three charges, namely - Section 354B - using criminal force, Section 354 D - stalking and Section 341 wrongful restraint.

Last year Republic TV launched a campaign in connection with the RK Pachauri sexual harassment case and interviewed the complainant and the victims in the case

Meanwhile, the complainant and the victim in the case said that she feels relieved with the Delhi court’s order.

 “Chuffed to bits. This has not been easy. This is a big big leap towards the truth. I am relieved & exhausted fighting RK Pachauri,” said the victim.

The victim also said that “Pachauri tried to stop me from speaking to press,” adding, “Pachauri will try and block charges in High Court, I hope that doesn’t happen.”

On February 13, 2015 an FIR was registered against him and he was granted anticipatory bail in the case on March 21.

In February this year, Patiala House Court refused to restrain media from reporting the case of sexual harassment against RK Pachauri.

After registration of an FIR against him by a colleague in February 2015, and with more women raising allegations in the months that followed, a civil suit was filed by Pachauri against media houses the next year.

Pachauri then filed a plea for injunction and defamation seeking damages amounting to Rs. 1 crore against few media houses.

On March 1, 2016, the Delhi Police had filed a 1,400-page chargesheet against Pachauri for allegedly sexually harassing a former woman colleague. He had also been accused of stalking and criminally intimidating the victim.

According to reports, after a year-long probe against Pachauri, police found more than 6,000 texts and WhatsApp messages between him and the complainant between September 2013 and February 2015, besides 34 calls he had made to her in that time.

In February 2016, another woman accused Pachauri of sexually harassing her.

(With ANI Inputs)