Tainted former TERI chief RK Pachauri passes away at 79

Former chief of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) RK Pachauri, who was accused of sexually harassing a colleague when he led the research group, passed away on Thursday (February 13), two days after he was put on life support, at a Delhi hospital. He was 79.

“Former TERI chief RK Pachauri passes away after prolonged cardiac ailment,” TERI Director General Ajay Mathur said on Thursday. He had undergone open-heart surgery at Escorts Heart Institute after suffering a stroke in Mexico in July last year, said a source, adding that he was critical. “He was suffering from cardiac issues,” the source said.

Pachauri had resigned from TERI after he was accused of harassing a former woman colleague. A Delhi court in October 2018 framed molestation charges against Pachauri, who has denied the allegations against him.

The environmentalist had the requested the court to speed up trial, saying he and his family were suffering after the police filed a complaint against him in February 2015. Pachauri was given anticipatory bail the next month.

(With inputs from agencies)