Tuesday, September 04, 2007

From glamour world to penury

— Photo: PTI

Fallen star: Geetanjali Nagpal being taken to the VIMHANS Hospital in Delhi.

New Delhi: Hers is a journey from the glitter of the fashion world to utter destitution.

Found begging on the streets of the capital, ex-model Geetanjali Nagpal now has nowhere to go with her family disowning her and government agencies floundering in finding a shelter for her and taking hours to decide on how to rehabilitate her.

Ms. Nagpal (32), who once walked the ramps for top designers, was found by a photojournalist begging at a market in posh South Delhi on Friday.

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) swung into action and took her to the VIMHANS Hospital, where doctors diagnosed her as suffering from fear psychosis and said she had to be hospitalised.

However, the VIMHANS refused to admit her saying a case had to be registered first.

DCW chairperson Barkha Singh took Ms. Nagpal to the Hauz Khas police station. However, the police did not register a case after which the ex-model was taken to the court of the Metropolitan Magistrate.

With her matted hair, dirty clothes and unwashed look, Ms. Nagpal, however, said: “I was only asking, not begging.”

There was some drama outside the hospital as Ms. Nagpal refused to leave the car and go inside for a check-up. Doctors then came to the car and spoke to her.

Daughter of a Navy officer, Ms. Nagpal graduated from Lady Shri Ram College. She left home in 1990 and took to modelling full time. Ms. Nagpal went from Delhi to Mumbai, but her career failed to take off. — PTI

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