NEW DELHI (TIP): The Delhi High Court on April 23 denied permission to environmentalist RK Pachauri, accused in a sexual harassment case, to travel abroad to attend the Global Water Summit.

Pachauri had moved the court seeking permission to go to Greece on April 26-29 for the summit.

Justice SP Garg denied relief to Pachauri after the Delhi Police vehemently opposed his plea and said his presence was not required at the summit and he may abuse the process of law if allowed to go abroad.

“I don’t think Pachauri’s presence is required there (at the summit),” Justice Garg said after which the plea was withdrawn by Pachauri’s counsel.

Pachauri was granted anticipatory bail on March 21 but was directed not to leave the country without the court’s permission.

He was also directed not to visit the premises of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). The allegation against Pachauri was made by a woman research analyst.

Citing several SMS texts, e-mails and WhatsApp messages as evidence, the woman has accused Pachauri of sexually harassing her soon after she joined TERI in September 2013.

Pachauri stepped down as chairperson of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in February and proceeded on leave from TERI, where he was the director general. But he has denied the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him.

During the hearing, Delhi police said the investigation was at a crucial stage and his visit abroad would hamper the probe.