by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore

Mysore, Nov 3: Lady Police Inspector Nirmala Harish was jailed yesterday allegedly for her unruly behaviour.

Despite being remanded to judicial custody, she violated the court order and disappeared after the court remanded her to judicial custody.

Nirmala Harish, earlier serving at the Women's Police Station and presently serving at the Railway Police Station here, is accused of not attending the court with regard to some cases registered at the Women's Police Station despite summons. She is also said to have ignored the nine summons issued by the Court.

The Third Chief Judicial Magistrate Court's Judge Mahadevaiah served a non-bailable warrant to the lady Inspector, directing her to attend Court yesterday. When Nirmala Harish reached the Court in the Police Department vehicle last evening and appeared before the judge, she was remanded to judicial custody on charges of contempt of court for disregarding the court's nine summons.

The high drama started when Nirmala Harish, being taken to jail in the Department's jeep with two lady constables, abruptly ordered to stop the vehicle at around 5.30 pm near Kalamandira and allegedly abused the escorts.

Seeks help

Instead of being escorted to the jail, she allegedly absconded with the two lady constables and then contacted the Public Prosecutor, urging him to help her get bail without going to the jail. On being advised by the Public Prosecutor to appear before the judge personally again and plead with him to grant pardon, Nirmala Harish is said to have become wild and declared "Neither would I go to the jail, nor to the judge."

She is then said to have remained elusive till about 9.40 pm, keeping the Police personnel frantically searching for her.

Media persons and photographers on being tipped off by the Police that Nirmala Harish would visit the judge's residence seeking pardon or concession, waited at the judge's residence till late night.

Cops' efforts

Meanwhile, it is learnt that DCP K.T. Balakrishna, in a bid to save the lady Inspector from the humiliation of being jailed, sent Lakshmipuram Police Station Inspector T.K. Dharmesh to the judge, pleading with him to revoke the judicial custody order issued against Nirmala.

The judge is then learnt to have told Inspector Dharmesh that since the lady Inspector had violated Court orders, she must personally appear before him and tender an apology.

After that, as per his (judge's) order, she must surrender herself to judicial custody and then get released on bail.

Lady cop's 'condition'

But Nirmala Harish, who was constantly in touch with the Police officers over her cell phone, said that she would not go to the judge's house as long as the media-persons were present there.

Ultimately, she arrived at Judge Mahadevaiah's house along with Inspector Dharmesh and submitted an apology letter. She was taken to the jail by Dharmesh who handed her over to jail authorities.

Nirmala told the jailer that since she had got bail, the process of her admitting into the jail and release must be carried out simultaneously. But the jailer refused to comply with her demand and said that she must undergo judicial custody first, only after which she could be released on bail.

Not going to cell

After a lengthy argument, Nirmala relented, but on condition that she would remain in the jail's office and not enter the cell.

Agreeing to this, the jail authorities, however, turned down her demand for a lady constable to accompany her in the jail.

She then entered the jail alone at 10.45 pm and was released at 11.41 pm after the official process was carried out.

As she came out of the jail, Nirmala vent her ire on Star of Mysore photographer Hampa Nagaraj saying, "Take as many photos as you want. What else can you do? I will get publicity. Give the pictures to all newspapers."

Earlier, Nirmala Harish had been suspended on charges of not registering a complaint lodged by a foreign lady and demanding bribe. The suspension order was later revoked pending inquiry.

After serving in the Cyber Crime Division, Bangalore, she was transferred to the Railway Police in city a week ago.