Delhi High Court today sought the response of police on a plea alleging that TERI Chief R K Pachauri was "exercising influence" on other officials of the organisation to settle the sexual harassment case lodged against him by a former woman colleague.

Justice S P Garg also asked Pachauri, Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), to explain his stand on a fresh application moved by the complainant alleging that he had even instructed one of her colleagues to persuade her for an out-of-court settlement.

"File a response to it (application)," the court said and fixed the matter for further hearing on February 11. The 29-year-old female research analyst, who has now quit the organisation, moved the application a day before the court is to pronounce its verdict on her plea seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to Pachauri by a lower court on March 21 last year. Taking note of her fresh application, the court has now deferred pronouncement of the order.