The statue of former Director General of Tihar prisons, Vimla Mehra, which is said to be one of the key reasons behind her transfer from the post, has been removed from the prison campus.
Mehra had herself inaugurated the statue that was built by a convict Ram Chander, in January this year. The statue was placed in Jail number one beside the statue of Bharat Mata and had been mired in controversy lately.
"The statue that was placed in the jail number one has been removed as Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung had asked the Home Department to ensure its removal as soon as possible. The execution was carried out last week under the presence of senior authorities," a prison source said today.
"Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung had issued orders in this regard on Aug 21, with effect to which the actions were taken," he said.
However the jail authorities denied reports of jail inmates being made to bow in front of Mehra's statue or offer prayers in front of it.
"The statue will not been handed over to Mehra as it has been constructed with jail funds and further orders are awaited on what has to be done with it", sources said.
The statue was constructed by a murder convict and sculptor Ram Chander, who has been lodged in the jail for more than seven years and is serving life imprisonment.
Mehra had earlier said that the inmate had built the statue own his own as a token of gratitude as he was helped by her to get furlough.
Mehra was transferred from Tihar last month. She is now posted in Delhi Police as Special Commissioner of Police (Administration).
