Ex-RAW official’s parents apologise to court

NEW DELHI - The elderly parents of a former woman official of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) Monday pleaded before the Delhi High Court to grant her freedom and apologised for her attempt to disrobe in the courtroom last week, following which she was taken into custody and sent for mental check-up.

Nisha Priya Bhatia, 48, Jan 20 removed her upper garment in the court of Justice Ajit Bharihoke around 10.45 a.m. She was restrained by women constables. She tried to repeat the act later in the day.

According to a court official, her parents Monday came to the court of Justice Bharihoke and waited for almost four hours till 4 p.m. till they got an opportunity to speak in the open courtroom, as the matter was not scheduled.

Whatever sin Nisha has committed, was out of frustration, her father told Justice Bharihoke, according to the court official.

Bhatia’s parents pointed out that she had two daughters to take care of - one 20-year-old and another 17-year-old.

Justice Bharihoke said his orders were passed in goodwill for Bhatia. The court Jan 20 directed that she be taken into custody for mental check-up at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IBHAS).

Bhatia disrobed in court, creating a ruckus in the high court after the judge adjourned the hearing on her petition against Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Ajay Pandey and Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) Pritam Singh.

Bhatia, who worked in the training cell of the RAW - India’s external intelligence agency - had filed a complaint against her bosses at the training cell, alleging sexual harassment. She also moved the high court against lower court judges alleging that she was harassed and humiliated outside their courts.