Former RAW official tries to undress in court

NEW DELHI - A former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) official, claiming to be frustrated at the frequent adjournments in a human trafficking case against her in the Delhi High Court, tried to undress before a judge Thursday but was stopped by police officials.

Nisha Bhatia, in her late thirties, started to undress in a courtroom before Justice Ajit Bharihoke around 12 noon. She is facing prosecution in a case of illegal human trafficking.

She told reporters later that she was exasperated by the number of adjournments in the case, some times even before the hearing began.

The justice immediately ordered the police officials present in the courtroom to restrain her.

Bhatia has claimed that false allegations and charges were levelled against her by her seniors as she had lodged a complaint against them for sexually harassing her in August 2008.

One of the accused, Ashok Chaturvedi, was convicted by a lower court but was later allowed to walk free by the Delhi High Court, which compelled Bhatia to file a writ petition against him.

Two other RAW officials, Pritam Singh and Ajay Pandey, have also been accused by Bhatia.

Bhatia was posted at RAW’s training institute in Gurgaon, where she had been working and residing for several years, But her services were terminated a day after she attempted suicide outside the Prime Minister’s Office Aug 19, 2008, as her complaints of sexual harassment were allegedly ignored.