Reshmi Dey in action at Christ Church school and (above) the principal’s room after the vandalism

The high court on Wednesday refused to grant anticipatory bail to Reshmi Dey, who was allegedly part of the mob that vandalised Christ Church Girls’ High School on September 12.

Reshmi, 36, whose daughter is a student of the Dum Dum school, is accused of damaging school properties and preventing police from discharging their duties.

The mob rampage started as a protest over the death of a Class V student, Oindrilla Das, after she had allegedly been ragged by some seniors.

Police have been claiming since September 12 that Reshmi, a resident of Bapuji Colony off Jessore Road, is absconding.

“Till date, the police have been been saying that they could not arrest the accused as she is absconding. The cops have no option but to arrest Reshmi Dey following today’s order,” lawyer Rabishankar Chatterjee, not involved in the case, said.

In her petition seeking anticipatory bail, Reshmi had denied any role in the school vandalism.

She stated that she had been “falsely implicated” in the case, forcing her to go into hiding.

The division bench of Justice Nishita Mahtre and Justice Arindam Sinha rejected the prayer, saying: “Attacking teachers, damaging school properties and preventing the police from maintaining law and order are serious crimes. So the court cannot grant anticipatory bail to the accused.”

The school, run by the Church of North India, had been vandalised by a mob protesting over 10-year-old Oindrilla’s death eight days after she had been allegedly confined to a school toilet by some seniors.

Oindrilla’s parents had alleged that she had been traumatised since the incident. Her grandfather lodged a police complaint after she died, accusing the school of “being irresponsible”.

The next day, some guardians, with the active backing by “outsiders”, attacked the school building, damaged school properties and prevented the police from discharging their duties.

The mob also forced principal Helen Sircar to quit. The principal was arrested and is out on bail.

Altogether 16 people were arrested for the vandalism. Reshmi, who was caught on TV camera hopping from table to table, ripping open a wooden partition and picking up a computer monitor and flinging files, was not among them.

“Reshmi’s name was included in the FIR following a prod from the CNI and others. The police are claiming that she is absconding.... But there are allegations that a minister, was backing her,” said a source.

During the hearing, Partha Sarathi Das, the lawyer appearing for the state, did not get a chance to support or oppose the anticipatory bail petition.

Soon after hearing the case history, Justice Mahtre, the senior judge on the bench, said the court could not allow the prayer as the accused had taken active part in damaging school properties.

Appearing for the accused, lawyer, Jayanta Narayan Chatterjee submitted: “It was alleged that my client had outraged the modesty of school teachers. This allegation cannot be slapped on a woman. Moreover, there is no evidence that she had prevented the police from doing their duties.”