Following a recently-concluded inquiry into the ``irresponsible'' and ``indecent'' behaviour of four woman sub-inspectors at a Dadar restaurant in 1998, the department has dispatched copies of a circular to all 74 police stations in Mumbai, saying it will not allow its officers to embarrass the law-enforcement machinery.

The department has also issued the four sub-inspectors -- Sangita Shinde, Vijaya Hiremath, Jyotsna Rasam and Nita Phadke -- a strict warning and has made a note of the incident in their service records.

The sub-inspectors were dining at Hotel Pritam at Dadar (W) on June 13 last year, when a fifth colleague, Sub-Inspector Surekha Kapile, decided to join the party. Kapile's presence, which resurrected memories of a sex scandal they were allegedlyinvolved in the previous year, had upset them terribly. Soon, Kapile was at the receiving end of punches, which led to fisticuffs.

As the restaurant patrons looked on the five women kicked each other, tore each others' hair out and ripped their clothes. A stream of expletives, of course, embellished the entire episode. Finally, the Matunga police were called in and escorted the police officers away. Kapile, who was hospitalised for a fortnight, also lodged a police complaint and a departmental inquiry was initiated against the four sub-inspectors.

The sex scandal that the sub-inspectors were allegedly involved in had taken place in 1997, when four of the five police officers were posted at the Crime Branch. The police administration had discovered that one of them was romantically linked to a Chhota Rajan aide, Sunil Madgaonkar alias Matya. Anxious to bury the sordid episode, the `tainted' sub-inspector's colleagues had therefore distanced themselves from her. After a few months, all four were transferredto airport security, which is considered a punishment posting.

The circular, dated July 19, 1999, states that by being sub-inspectors holding responsible positions -- especially being women police officers -- their behaviour at the restaurant had brought shame to the force ``known for its discipline''.

It has also asked the police stations where the sub-inspectors are currently posted and/or the departments concerned to make an entry in their service records and send it to the joint commissioner of police (law and order).

Senior Inspector with the Matunga police, Netaji Tambavekar, told Express Newsline: ``The four batchmates had gathered to celebrate their years in the police force. However, they began arguing as to who had invited Kapile to the gathering. This led to a fight. Kapile walked out and came to us to make a complaint of assault.''