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Pachauri’s arrest stayed till March 27

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Pachauri

New Delhi: A court here Thursday granted protection from arrest, till March 27, to environmentalist R.K. Pachauri, in a sexual harassment case.

Additional Sessions Judge Raj Kumar Tripathi granted the interim protection to Pachauri while hearing his anticipatory bail application moved on health grounds.

The court has directed him to neither visit the premises of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), not to leave the country without permission, not influence any witnesses in the case directly or indirectly and join the investigation whenever required by police.

However, it has kept the bail application pending and listed the matter for March 27 for further hearing as it ordered that he must not be arrested till next date of hearing.

Opposing the bail application, the public prosecutor said that Pachauri is not co-operating in the investigation and has appeared before police for questioning only once.

Police submitted that Pachauri has denied his role over exchanges of SMSes and conversation with the victim. Saying the statement of the victim running over 30 pages has been already recorded in the matter, it added that his questioning is required to conduct further probe in the matter.

The complainant’s counsel Prashant Mendiratta, noting Pachauri is a highly influential person, said more people are coming forward to lodge their complaints against him but if he is granted protection, then they will not come forward, he said.

Pachauri’s counsel Sidharth Luthra however said that his client is not medically fit and suffering from various ailments.

Pachauri must be released on bail as there is less chance of tampering with evidence because he has taken leave from TERI and is not in a condition to influence witnesses in the matter, Luthra told court.

Pachauri’s lawyer Ashish Bhan later expressed his happiness over the court’s order.

“We are happy that the court has granted anticipatory bail on the basis of a prima facie view that no custodial interrogation is required. All conditions imposed by the court are normal and routine conditions to allow a free and fair investigation of the case,” he said in a statement here.

Pachauri, who had Tuesday stepped down as chairperson of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), has denied the allegations against him but also proceeded on leave from TERI, where he was the director general.

The 75-year-old was Feb 21 admitted to a private hospital here on account of a heart problem, a TERI source told IANS. The news about his hospitalisation came to light Wednesday.

Women activists meanwhile questioned the TERI governing council for not initiating a “disciplinary” enquiry against him for acts of alleged misconduct and demanded that he must be “suspended pending the enquiry”.

In a strongly-worded letter to a member of the governing council, lawyer Indira Jaisingh, activist Kavita Krishnan, former Planning Commission member Syeda Hameed along with others, have sought “suspension” of Pachauri from his position pending an internal enquiry by the presiding officer of the internal complaints committee of TERI.A

The Padma Bhushan awardee is facing a complaint of alleged harassment by a woman research analyst who has also lodged a police case. Citing several texts, emails, and WhatsApp messages as evidence to prove the claim of sexual harassment, the complainant accused Pachauri of harassing her soon after she joined the TERI in September 2013.

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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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