Pachauri influencing witnesses, cancel bail: Delhi police tells HC

The police on Thursday sought cancellation of anticipatory bail to The Energy and Resources Institute Director General R K Pachauri, accused of sexual harassment, saying he was influencing witnesses and misusing the liberty of bail, a charge denied by him.

In its plea before a Delhi high court bench of Justice S P Garg, the Delhi police submitted that Pachauri was evasive during interrogation and not cooperating with probe agencies, as it supported the alleged victim's plea that the bail granted to him should be cancelled.

Pachauri, on the other hand, submitted that there was "nothing on record to suggest that he has ever influenced witnesses or any other persons related to the present case or interfered in the investigation".

The submissions of the police and Pachauri were made before the court, which was hearing the woman's plea seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to him by a lower court on March 21.

The 29-year-old female research analyst has alleged in her application that "free and fair investigation" cannot be carried out if Pachauri was "allowed to roam around freely".

Countering this contention, the TERI chief said there was "nothing on record to suggest that free and fair investigation is not possible in the present case".

The police in a status report filed through their Additional Standing Counsel said, "During the course of investigation, R K Pachauri was interrogated four times...at his residence in the presence of his lawyer, but he is not cooperating completely with the investigating agency and (has) avoided giving proper replies to the questions put up before him during interrogation."

Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, who filed reply on behalf of the TERI chief, said "Pachauri has co-operated in the investigation to the best of his abilities."

The court, which took note of both the affidavits, fixed the matter for disposal on September 30.