A Delhi court has allowed former TERI Director-General R.K. Pachauri to visit Kuwait and Somalia between November 1 and 6. Mr. Pachauri is accused of sexually harassing a woman researcher at TERI.
Allowing his application to visit the two countries, Metropolitan Magistrate Shivani Chauhan said: “The accused is permitted to travel as per his itinerary from November 1 to November 3 to Kuwait and thereafter from November 3 to Somalia and return back on or before November 7 subject to furnishing of one local surety of Rs.4 lakh to the satisfaction of this court.”
The Magistrate also directed Mr. Pachauri to furnish an undertaking that he would make himself available to the Investigating Officer as per her requirement. “The accused shall also file a copy of his travel tickets. He shall intimate the court and the Investigating Officer, after his return.”
In his application, Mr. Pachauri said he had been invited to deliver a lecture in Kuwait and thereafter attend a conference in Somalia.
Delhi Police have booked Mr. Pachauri under Sections 354 (molestation), 354A (physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures), 354D (any man who follows a woman and contacts, or attempts to contact such woman to foster personal interaction repeatedly despite a clear indication of disinterest by such woman) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The former TERI Director-General has been invited to deliver a lecture in Kuwait and attend a conference in Somalia
