The case has all the turns and twists of a lost-and-found film and what makes it pleasant is its happy ending. It is about Mumbai’s 16-year-old Pooja Gaud who was reunited with her mother after nine years.
Gaud had been kidnapped on January 22, 2013, when she was on the way to her school. Her elder brother Rohit was ahead of her and on not finding her in the school later he immediately informed the family who along with neighbours started a hunt but it was futile.
Finally, a missing person case was registered at the DN Nagar police station.
According to Pooja one D’Souza, a resident who stayed just 100 metres away from her residence had been lured with the promise of an ice-cream and chocolate.
This case remained permanently etched in the mind and heart of Assistant Sub Inspector Rajendra Bhosale, who headed the Missing Persons’ Bureau at DN Nagar police station and regretted that Pooja’s was the only case among those registered between 2010 and 2015, that they couldn’t crack.
Recalling that episode Bhosale told HT: “I still carry her photo in my wallet. Even after my retirement, I thought about the girl every day and prayed that she is found. I am elated and I can now rest without any more tension.”
Luck favoured Pooja who when working in a Juhu house, came across a sympathetic domestic help, Pramila Devendra, to whom she narrated the story of her ill-treatment by her family who weren’t her real parents. Using Google search Devendra found reports about missing Pooja, including her photograph and telephone numbers to contact. She reached Pooja’s neighbour and finally Pooja’s mother who then informed DN Nagar police station.
According to Pooja the D’Souza’s initially looked after her though they threatened her not to reveal that they weren’t her real parents. Things changed dramatically when D’Souza’s had their own baby and then was made to work at home and later outside.
The cops have registered a first information report (FIR) against Harry D’Souza and his wife, Soni, while D’Souza who was arrested will be in police custody till August 10.
