“Return of the Memons- A Pyrrhic Victory” continues…

Memons were formally arrested as they emerged from the Air Terminal by DSP IS Saroha, the then Investigating Officer (I.O.) of the case. The nature of the operation leading to the arrest was such that the I.O. was not kept privy to what had been going on thus far. He had received a ‘tip-off’ and lay in wait at the Airport for the absconders, unaware of the drama that had preceded his ‘secret information’.
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There was one last thing which remained to be done and that was to get Rahin and her daughter Zubeida back. News of the arrest of Memons had broken and the media was on over-drive. Various theories were doing the rounds including one that a deal had been struck between the CBI and the Memons. CBI Director had to angrily deny to the press that there had been any such deal. The fact that details of the operation were kept under wraps was only adding to the wild speculations around.

Coming back to Rahin and her baby Zubeida, no workable strategy was in sight. There was even a talk of smuggling them out by the sea route. But they were all only fancy ideas, given the delicate dictates of international diplomacy.
The Director took a call and decided that Rahin should come out in the open and make an official request to the Indian Consulate that her husband and other family members were in India and in custody. She was herself an absconding accused and would like to return to her country and face trial. Therefore, the Indian Mission in Dubai should help her. She did as she was told.
An Emergency Passport was given to her by the Indian Consulate with her child’s name endorsed on it. Her tickets were procured and Dubai authorities duly informed. There was no cloak-and-dagger game to be played this time. The Consulate made a formal request to the immigration authorities of Dubai to let her leave, which was acceded to.

To be continued…