RK Pachauri's plea seeking gag on media rejected

Former The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) chief RK Pachauri's plea seeking a gag order on media coverage of the sexual harassment case in which he is an accused was on Wednesday rejected by a Delhi Court. Pachauri had sought an injunction claiming that his reputation was being damaged by the media, said reports.

The Patiala House Court, however, said that the media coverage must indicate that the matter is pending before the court. It also said that views of Pachauri should also be carried.

Since the original complaint was filed, a total of nine women have come forward accusing Pachauri of harassing them when they worked at TERI. One of the woman, who claimed Pachauri made sexual advances at her more than 10 years ago, had also slammed TERI for appointing Pachauri as executive vice-chairman.

The accusations on Pachauri were extensively reported by the media.

Delhi Police had in 2016 charge-sheeted Pachuari under various sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, sexual harassment, stalking, criminal intimidation and words, gestures or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman.

The police had then cited around 23 prosecution witnesses and several text messages, e-mails and WhatsApp messages exchanged between the accused and victim as evidence to support its case.

Pachauri was accused of sexually harassing a female colleague in 2015. The same year in November, the woman researcher who accused him of sexual harassment quit her job at TERI, alleging she was treated badly. TERI denied the charge.

OneIndia News