Days after a woman, who filed a sexual harassment case against R K Pachauri, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to ensure a fair investigation, the green body TERI today said that it had gone "out of its way" to protect her and given her special privileges.
In a statement issued today in response to "factual errors" regarding the woman's allegations against TERI, the green body said that special privileges were given to the complainant to ensure that she is treated fairly and her claims are "flatly contradicted by a well-documented record."
"The record is clear that TERI has gone out of its way to accommodate and protect the complainant while her allegations are being carefully investigated by the police.
"Indeed, TERI's management has accorded special privileges to the complainant to ensure that she is treated fairly. Claims to the contrary made by the complainant are flatly contradicted by a well-documented record," the green body said in a statement.
The woman had written to Modi a few days back urging him to ensure that the investigation is carried out in a "free and fair" manner.
The woman had said that it was "most unfortunate" to note the "scary silence and inaction" of the Governing Council of the Institute which has the who's who of corporate India.
On February 13 this year, an FIR was registered against 74-year-old Pachauri on charges of sexual harassment levelled by the woman, a senior TERI employee.
On July 23, Pachauri was removed as the Director General of the green body by its governing council and replaced with Ajay Mathur, currently DG of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
In the statement, TERI today said that as an institute, it has been cooperating fully with the police and has facilitated the interrogation of all the staff that the police identified for questioning.
"It is relevant to point out that in the judgement of the Sessions Court on March 21 this year, the Learned Judge has stated clearly that 'evidence in the case is of documentary and electronic in nature'. Nevertheless, TERI facilitated the police in questioning several TERI employees," it said.
