Family of Indian Woman Detained in Turkey Turns to Sushma Swaraj

Renu Ajay Narula’s family allege she has been detained in Turkey for over 12 days over a false charge of shoplifting

The family of Renu Ajay Narula have alleged that the 59-year-old from Mumbai has been reportedly detained in Turkey for over 12 days over a false charge of shoplifting.

Narula, was detained by Turkish authorities on 20 April at the Istanbul airport, while boarding a flight to Athens.

Renu Narula, passport number L4345752 - detained in Turkey for a frivolous, personally charged accusation. She's helpless and harassed, and is not allowed to fly back for 12 days. Email sent to all official MEA IDs with details. Kindly intervene@SushmaSwaraj @MEAQuery @MEAIndia

— amit chhangani (@amitchhangani) May 1, 2018

Narula’s family have written and tweeted out to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the hope of getting some assistance to bring her home.

In a letter addressed to the minister, a copy of which The Quint has accessed, Narula’s daughter Mahima Chhangani alleged that her mother tried on sunglasses at a store in the airport, returned them, and left without buying anything.

However, the shopkeeper reportedly followed her and accused Narula of stealing the sunglasses, forcing her to open her purse and insisting that the pair present in her purse were the ones she had shoplifted, Chhangani alleged.

According to Chhangani, Narula is an affluent fashion designer herself and has "absolutely no reason to steal anything”.

When Narula refused to pay, the police was called in and she was detained, Chhangani wrote. “The police went through the video camera footage but did not find anything incriminating. The footage shows that she tried the sunglasses, and put a piece of tissue paper into her handbag. They however, have not absolved her and allowed her to return to India”.

The police then recommended a lawyer, who reportedly filed a petition in the court, requesting them to allow Narula to return. The petition was however denied, and Narula has reportedly been forced to stay on in Istanbul ‘indefinitely’ till the proceedings are completed.

Chhangani further stated that Narula is the only caretaker for her grandfather, aged 94. The family is also ready to pay any amount the Turkey government demands, "as security to let her fly out of the country and take care of her father-in-law”.

(The Quint is now on WhatsApp. To receive handpicked stories on topics you care about, subscribe to our WhatsApp services. Just go to TheQuint.com/WhatsApp and hit send)