New Delhi: A Delhi court set aside an order forfeiting the surety of Rs 4 lakh furnished by TERI Executive Vice Chairman R K Pachauri, facing sexual harassment allegations by an ex-colleague, for overstaying abroad in violation of travel conditions imposed on him.
Additional Sessions Judge R K Tripathi while giving relief to Pachauri, who was yesterday listed in a charge sheet by Delhi Police in the sexual harassment case, said the former TERI chief “did not appear to be at fault” and had showed bona fide reasons for change in schedule of his trip.
“The organisers of the programme had changed the date due to unavoidable circumstances in which revisionist was invited to receive the award. There appears no fault on the part of revisionist in flouting directions of Metropolitan Magistrate.
“The act of revisionist for extension of his travel by one day was neither willful nor deliberate, but due to the things which were beyond his control,” the judge said.
The court said, “The revisionist (Pachauri) had shown bona fide reasons for not returning on February 18, 2016. Prior intimation of his return was given to court of metropolitan Magistrate. The change of schedule of the Award Ceremony was beyond control of revisionist.”
A Magisterial court had on February 15 allowed Pachauri to travel to Sharjah to receive Lifetime Achievement Award on February 17 but he moved an application before it seeking extension of his trip by a day saying the ceremony was rescheduled for February 18.
