Nine people have been arrested in relation to a case pertaining to the alleged suicide of advocate Dharani S, the government informed the High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday.

The government said three persons were still absconding and all efforts were being made to arrest them.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Advocates’ Association, Bengaluru, which had sought transfer of probe in the case to the CBI.

Dharani committed suicide on December 31, 2018, at her home in Mahadevapura police limits after alleged harassment by the local corporator.

The state had sought two weeks to submit a report in the case. The court gave the police a week to file a status report on the investigation and the action taken.

The state also informed the court that it has written to the Deputy Inspector General of Police to take action against the Mahadevpura police inspector.

The court also pulled up the police for their laxity in the investigation and orally observed that the life of the young advocate could have been saved if they had taken timely action.

The court also observed that there was a serious lapse on part of the police as no efforts were made to arrest the accused.

The hearing of the case was adjourned to March 26.