India, March 27 -- New Delhi

A 30-year-old woman was held for impersonating a police officer and trying to gain access to inmates' cells at the Tihar Jail earlier this week, police said on Thursday, adding that she worked as a civil defence volunteer and sought to get "special access" to meet her brother, who is behind bars.

The incident took place at Jail No 8 on Tuesday morning, police said, adding that the accused, identified as Nisha Parveen, used her civil defence uniform and added insignia and badges to pass off as a police officer. However, security staff noticed an unusual cat-like figure on an insignia and raised the alarm.

"She said she is posted with Delhi Police. The jail officials found she was carrying two medical documen...