A Delhi court on Saturday fixed January 4 next year as the date for beginning trial in the sexual harassment case against former TERI Director-General R.K. Pachauri filed by a former colleague, even as the accused urged the court to expedite the proceeding in view of his old age.
Metropolitan Magistrate Charu Gupta at the Saket District Court framed charges against Mr. Pachauri when he pleaded not guilty under Sections 354 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354-A ( sexual harassment) and 509 (uttering any word or making any gesture intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The court fixed January 4 and 5 as the dates for recording of evidence of the complainant. It had on September 14 ordered framing of the charges.