The police came to know on Wednesday that Anita Uddaiya (47), a witness in the 26/11 Mumbai attack and who had reportedly been ‘missing’ since Sunday, was not missing after all.
The resident of Badhwar Park in Cuffe Parade had gone to meet her sister in Satara. She returned home on Wednesday and she rushed to the Cuffe Parade police station to quell the rumour that she had been taken to the US by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“On Tuesday, I was shocked to see television channels flashing my picture and reports that I had left for America,” Anita told the police. “What surprised me more that my daughter Seema had been giving interviews to the channels. I left for Satara on Sunday to visit my sister as I was disturbed due to some personal matter.”
She said she had gone to meet her ailing husband, Rajendra, at St George Hospital on Saturday. On Sunday, she left for Satara without informing her family.
Seema (27) did not check her whereabouts and registered a missing person’s complaint. “Seema, who resides at Nallasopara, came and enquired in the neighbourhood. The locals sensationalised the matter and told her that they had seen Anita being taken away in a car which had a beacon,” a police official said.
{{/usCountry}}Seema (27) did not check her whereabouts and registered a missing person’s complaint. “Seema, who resides at Nallasopara, came and enquired in the neighbourhood. The locals sensationalised the matter and told her that they had seen Anita being taken away in a car which had a beacon,” a police official said.
{{/usCountry}}It was learnt during the investigation that the two social workers knew that Anita had been making rounds of the Crime Branch to record her statement on the attacks. But, the Crime Branch officials did not entertain her.
“The two social workers from Macchimar Colony reportedly spread rumours about she being taken to the US. Believing them, Seema registered the missing person’s complaint,” said a police officer. “We will take legal action against them.”
Additional Police Commissioner (south region) K Venkatesham said: “Based on Anita’s statement, we have quashed the missing person’s complaint.”