Pachauri's resignation from PM's climate panel accepted

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday accepted the resignation of noted environmentalist R.K. Pachauri from the PM's Council on Climate Change.

Pachauri, who had earlier submitted his resignation to the prime minster, is facing a complaint of alleged sexual harassment by a woman research analyst who has also lodged a police case.

The 75-year-old Padma Bhushan awardee has denied the allegations but proceeded to go on leave from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) where he is the director-general.

Following the allegations, Pachauri Tuesday also stepped down as chairperson of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Citing several texts, emails, and WhatsApp messages as evidence to prove the claim of sexual harassment, the complainant accused the scientist of harassing her soon after she joined TERI in September 2013.

However, Pachauri's counsel refuted the accusations saying his client's computer and phone were "hacked".