Men in uniform supported me more than the woman investigating officer,” said the former research analyst who worked at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) after a Delhi court ordered framing of molestation charges against former TERI chief RK Pachauri on Friday. Pachauri stands accused of sexual harassment and intent to insult the modesty of a woman.
The ex-TERI employee has been fighting the case for almost two years. “The men in my life and those on the case have supported me unconditionally,” she says, adding she is lucky to have a supportive family too. “Most importantly they have supported the cause and that is all that matters.”
Metropolitan Magistrate Charu Gupta ordered framing of charges under sections 354 (Outraging modesty), 354 A (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code. She ordered the charges to be formally framed on October 20.”
Pachauri was discharged of some other sections such as 506 (criminal intimidation), 341 (wrongful restraint), 354 (D) (stalking) and 354 (B) (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe); stating that prima facie, these charges were not made out.
Speaking to DNA Pachauri’s lawyer Ashish Dixit said “The court at the preliminary hearing has discharged Dr. Pachauri with the majority of the offences charged. This re-confirms our stand that there is no merit in the allegations of the complainant. We have complete faith in the judiciary and justice will prevail,”
The analyst says she never lost sight of the bigger picture. “I knew it (the framing of charges) would happen, but the question was ‘when’,” she says, adding “I breathed a sigh of relief today. This is a big leap towards the truth, which must triumph.”
However, she cannot come to terms with the fact that her tormentor’s career has not come under a shadow because of these allegations, and he is still invited to speak at conferences in India and abroad. “It is highly regrettable and shameful that he is invited to deliver sermons. I hope this hypocrisy stops. Women empowerment is not just for seminars but to be practised where it matters,” she said.
She also expressed gratitude to her lawyers — advocate Prashant Mendiratta and his team, crediting them with bringing the case so far.
On February 13, 2015, an FIR was registered against Pachauri. Over 1,400-page charge sheet was filed by the Delhi Police on March 1, 2016, saying there was "sufficient allegations" against Pachauri that he had sexually harassed, stalked and threatened the complainant.
