The Delhi Police on Thursday sought cancellation of anticipatory bail to TERI director general RK 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 SP Garg, the Delhi Police submitted that Pachauri was evasive during interrogation and was 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 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”.
The woman in her petition claimed that Pachauri was “abusing his position and hijacking the entire electronic evidence as well as the material witnesses”, saying that “grave prejudice would be caused” to her if anticipatory bail to Pachauri was not cancelled.
Referring to a March 21 order of the lower court, the woman submitted that it had “miserably failed” to appreciate the evidence gathered by the police to demonstrate that Pachauri, in violation of court orders, was in active touch with TERI officials and influencing witnesses. She also opposed Pachauri’s request before a trial court to modify its order barring him from entering TERI.
Police in a status report filed through their Additional Standing Counsel said “during the course of investigation, RK 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.
Police also submitted that “investigation of the case is at a very crucial stage. FSl (forensic) result in the matter with regard to tampering/ hacking mobile phones, computers, laptops and other electronic gadgets from which the messages/e-mails have been sent to the complainant by the respondent (Pachauri), is awaited.
“Detailed custodial interrogation of Pachauri is required to ascertain true facts of the case as he is giving evasive replies to the questions put up to him by the investigating agency. He is misusing liberty of anticipatory bail and is influencing the witnesses by giving them certain directions as admitted by him during interrogation....,” police said.