There Were Two Other Pachauri Victims Who the Police Ignored

The ​women’s lawyer says that fearful of Pachauri’s clout and influence, they will testify on condition of anonymity.

In a brazen display of power, sexual harassment accused RK Pachauri was promoted to the post of Executive Vice Chairman of TERI. In a fresh twist, The Quint has learnt that not only is RK Pachauri a repeat offender, but that the Delhi Police has ignored crucial evidence against him.

After the sexual harassment complaint was filed against Pachauri in February 2015, two former female employees who worked in TERI at different times also came out and accused Pachauri of sexual harassment of a similar nature as is being alleged by the current complainant. They agreed to testify.

Speaking to The Quint, their lawyer, Vrinda Grover, reveals that these women, one Indian and one European national, were scared of the clout and influence that RK Pachauri enjoys. These two alleged victims resigned from TERI but never registered an official complaint. However, they have been willing to testify in the ongoing case under the condition of anonymity, but the Delhi Police, despite repeated requests has not recorded their statement.

When the incident of sexual harassment at TERI became public, two more women came forward with their story. One Indian and one European national came forward to testify against Pachauri as the manner and nature of harassment was the same. I met the DCP South and the investigation team in February 2015 and told them that I had crucial material evidence against Pachauri. I had asked them to record statements of these two women and corroborate it with the version of the complainant as it would prove that Pachauri is a repeat offender. I never heard from them. I also wrote a letter to the Delhi Police Commissioner, BS Bassi in March 2015, there was no acknowledgement or reply to my repeated communications. Why has there been no charge sheet filed in over a year? This only goes to show that Delhi police’s investigation is lazy and partisan. Pachauri has not been held accountable and has repeatedly used his position and power.

Vrinda Grover, Senior Advocate

In a letter addressed to Mr Prem Nath, DCP South on 5 March, 2015, Grover wrote:

The two women have narrated to me specific incidents where Mr RK Pachauri through his actions, has intentionally and knowingly, sexually harassed, misbehaved and intruded upon their privacy.

Grover added that these two women who have worked at TERI and been subject to similar harassment at the hands of Pachauri and can therefore provide ‘relevant material facts’ that can have a direct impact on the case.

I expressly communicated to the investigating team that the statements of these two women would strengthen their case against the accused, as it established that the accused has on several occasions repeatedly abused his position to sexually harass, intimidate and misbehave with women working at TERI. Their statements are extremely relevant and material to the aforesaid FIR under investigation, as they speak to the character and conduct of the accused.

Grover has further asked the Delhi Police for an assurance that the identity of these two women would be concealed from all media, print, digital and electronic as they fear his clout and influence.

Due to the immense clout and power that Mr Pachauri wields, my clients are extremely fearful that Mr Pachauri will bring harm to them, their reputation, their family and may also use his influence to jeopardize their careers.

Grover has further alleged that despite the letter, the statement of these two sexual harassment victims was not taken on record. Grover also wrote a follow-up letter to the Delhi Police Commissioner, BS Bassi, on 7 April 2015 complaining about the refusal to take on record material evidence and statements against Pachauri. To that letter too, she claims, there was no acknowledgement or reply.