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My name is Poojari, and I am not a gangster or his wife

42-year-old teacher from Borivali speaks exclusively to dna and recalls her 30- hour ordeal

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"My name is Poojari and I am not a gangster or his wife," said a traumatised Shridevi Poojari, who was detained for more than 30 hours by the police in a case of mistaken identity.

On Monday evening, 42-year-old Shridevi, along with her husband, 12-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son, reached the Mumbai international airport. She was on her way to Dubai, but was stopped by the immigration officials because the Mangalore police had issued a country-wide Look Out Notice against her. A teacher by profession, Shridevi was aghast.

After a 30-hour ordeal of being interrogated by three different police wings, treated like a criminal, taken to court, she was finally set free after the authorities realised that it was a major goof-up by the police.

Shridevi narrated her ordeal, exclusively to dna, that she and her son had to undergo on that fateful evening of December 22.

As the Poojari family went for immigration checks, Shridevi and her son were asked to step aside and their documents where checked. "We asked the officers what happened and why we were asked to step aside but none of the officials replied. Later, we were asked to wait in an isolated area. It was then that an officer from immigration gave me a number of the Mangalore police and told that an LOC (Look Out Circular) has been issued on my name and that my son's," Shridevi said.

"It was then we realised that something was serious and I immediately called up a friend, whose uncle is a retired IG and sought her to help. When her uncle inquired with the Mangalore police, he was told that an LOC was issued against (fugitive gangster) Ravi Pujari's wife and they suspect that I am the gangster's wife," Shridevi said.

Shridevi's ordeal had just begun. "I was taken to a small room, along with my family, and, in 45 minutes, a lot of policemen arrived there. All looked like commandos with guns in their hands and me and my family were scared as we never had a brush-off with the police in our life," Shridevi added.

"After treating me like a high-profile criminal, police officials started to ask me questions about myself and gangster Ravi Pujari and if I knew him. Whenever me or my son wanted to use the washroom, gun-trotting police officers followed us," recalled Shridevi.

Even though the Mumbai police was convinced that she had no connection whatsoever with Ravi Pujari, her troubles were far from over. "The officer from the Mumbai police, after questioning, looked satisfied with the answers I gave but they politely informed me that I could not leave till the Mangalore police team verify my identity," Shridevi said.

After spending the whole night of December 22 in detention, Shridevi was taken to the court the next day. "I felt like a criminal when I was taken to the court. I was made to sit in a police van filled with criminals. And with the media hounding me, I had to hide and cover my face, like criminals do. I was also asked to remove my footwear and enter the court room," Shridevi lamented.

"The Mangalore police, which were looking for gangster Ravi Pujari's wife, came next day to confirm my identity and they took an entire day to confirm I was indeed not Ravi Pujari's wife".

It was only on early Wednesday morning that the Mangalore police, after verifying all details, allowed Shridevi and her son to go back home.

"I will never ever forget the day in my life, as we were taking out first overseas trip and it ended up this way", said Shridevi.

Shridevi is now planning to write a book of the entire episode about her experience of being mistaken as a gangster's wife.

Agencies interrogated Shridevi

Intelligence Bureau

Mumbai Police

Mangalore police

Hours she was kept detained

30 hours

Questions asked to Shridevi

What is your name?

Where do you stay?

How long you have been living in Mumbai?

What do you do?

Why have you chosen Dubai to travel?

Do you have any association with Ravi Pujari?

Have you ever heard your husband speaking to Ravi Pujari?

Have you ever heard your husband making calls to prominent personalities?

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