The Hindu : Front Page : `Missing woman' walks into High Court

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 25, 2005

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Front Page

`Missing woman' walks into High Court

Legal Correspondent

The Langerhouz woman claims to have changed her name to Sanaa Fatima

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HYDERABAD: After taking several twists and turns, the case relating to the mysterious disappearance of a young woman of Langerhouz here came to a dramatic end after she walked into the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday claiming herself to be Sanaa Fatima.

Accompanied by Majlis MP from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi, the 20-year-old woman, clad in a burkha, informed the court that she had embraced Islam and did not want to go to the house of her parents who had filed a writ petition two months ago seeking a direction to the police to trace her. Following her appearance, the High Court closed the writ petition filed by her parents after Mr. Owaisi identified her during the in- camera proceedings.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice R. Subhash Reddy had earlier directed the police to produce her before the court. In the event of its failure, the Director-General of Police must explain the situation in person by October 28.

A resident of Pensionpura in Langerhouz, the woman, Pallavi, went missing on July 26. The local police booked a case of a woman missing based on her parents' complaint. They alleged that a neighbour, Quader Ali, had eloped with her and converted her to Islam. Meanwhile, Quader Ali was found murdered at Kadiri in Anantapur district on September 23. Four of Pallavi's relatives surrendered to the police in connection with the murder.

Questioned

When the woman identified herself in the court as Pallavi, the bench repeatedly questioned her as to how she had came to the court and how it could ascertain her identity. The Advocate-General said anyone among the large number of people gathered in the court hall must have brought her. However, the woman said Mr. Owasi, who was present in the court hall, could identify her. Within 15 minutes, the case was called and counsel for the woman's mother to be present in the court.

During the in-camera proceedings, the MP gave a declaration that he recognised her as Pallavi, who had converted into Islam. Once the bench recorded the woman's statement and declared the case was closed, the latter was whisked away.

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