A 21-year-old Bangladeshi national, Rubina Irshad Sheikh, residing in Sector 5, Koparkhairane, Navi Mumbai, escaped from Mumbai’s Sir JJ Hospital on Thursday morning while under judicial custody. She had been lodged at Byculla District Jail in connection with multiple criminal cases.

According to police, Sheikh was arrested on January 13 this year by Vashi police along with her mother, Ayesha Irshad Sheikh, 40, elder sister Reshma Irshad Sheikh, 19, elder brother Hussain alias Sagar Sheikh, 23, and a 17-year-old younger brother. They were booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions of the Passport Act and Foreigners Act.

Sheikh was admitted to JJ Hospital’s Ward No. 10 on August 11 for treatment of a cold, fever, skin ailments, and pregnancy-related care, as she was five months pregnant. On August 14, while being escorted for a sonography, she asked the woman constable on duty for permission to use the bathroom. Taking advantage of the situation, she fled the hospital premises.

A fresh case has been registered at Sir JJ Marg police station for escaping from lawful custody, and multiple police teams have launched a manhunt to trace her.
Police sources said Sheikh was among five Bangladeshi nationals, including a minor, arrested by Vashi police for illegally residing in India and possessing forged Indian identity documents. The arrests followed a tip-off and took place near a public toilet in Juhugaon, Sector 11, Vashi.

Accused were identified as…

. Ayesha Irshad Sheikh, 40, resident of Juhugaon; originally from Mahish Kula village, Thana Bhatpara, District Jashore, Bangladesh
. Reshma Irshad Sheikh, 19, resident of Juhugaon; originally from Bangladesh
. Rubina Irshad Sheikh, 21, resident of Juhugaon; originally from Bangladesh
. Minor boy (17 years, 11 months, 23 days) — resident of Juhugaon; originally from Bangladesh
. Hussain alias Sagar Sheikh, 23, resident of Koparkhairane; originally from Bangladesh.

When asked for valid travel or residential documents, the accused admitted they were Bangladeshi nationals without legal papers. Police said some possessed forged Aadhaar, PAN, and voter ID cards and had even cast votes in recent parliamentary and legislative elections in Maharashtra.

Under the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2003, a person born after July 1, 1987, is not considered an Indian citizen if either parent is an illegal immigrant. During interrogation, Ayesha Irshad Sheikh allegedly admitted she had illegally entered India 25-30 years ago via the Benapole-Bonga border to seek work.

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