Mamta Kulkarni converts to Islam to wed jailed lover and set him free

May 12, 2013 

Vaishakh Shuklapaksha 2, Kaliyug Varsha 5115

By Soumyadipta Banerjee

Mamta Kulkarni, who walked the fine line between sleazy and sexy in the 90s, had disappeared from the city more than a decade ago. It is said that the actress, who shot to notoriety with a topless cover shot for a film magazine, embraced a life of anonymity after her fortunes dipped and she found love with international drug kingpin Vicky Goswami. In 1997 Vicky was arrested for trafficking 11.5 tonnes of mandrax valued at $ 6 million and incarcerated in Dubai.

TOI has learnt that Vicky, now 52 years old, was released from the Dubai prison on November 15, 2012, after his life sentence was reduced on account of his model conduct. While in prison he had converted to Islam, and married Mamta, who had been managing his real estate business that includes a prominent hotel in Dubai, in his absence. Sources close to the couple say, Vicky is now in Nairobi, with his faithful wife by his side.

Vicky's hush-hush release from prison has been reported in several news channels in South Africa, from where he managed his network. "A life sentence in Dubai is in effect 25 years, but prisoners can apply for early release on various grounds. Apart from good conduct, these include learning to recite passages from the Qu'ran or converting to Islam. To strengthen his clemency appeal, Goswami converted to Islam and was married according to Islamic rites while incarcerated," says the article that appeared in the Mail & Guardian, which has been following the sensational case.

Though the opposition lawyers strongly opposed his clemency saying that he was an international criminal, the court pardoned him on grounds that he was a reformed criminal and a devout Muslim. The court also ordered that he be deported to his native country in India. Sources claim Vicky arrived in India during December 2012 and left for Kenya soon after. Since he did not have any specific criminal cases pending against him in India, it was easier for him to fly to Kenya.

Rashid Saeed, one of the most well-known event organisers in Dubai, said: "It was extremely difficult to get in touch with Mamta. She was very reticent and turned down all offers to perform at our shows. Late last year, we were told by common friends that she was married and she would never perform on stage again."

Even though Mamta had disappeared, she kept in touch with her sisters, one of whom stays in Mumbai and has been appointed caretaker of her house in Mumbai. TOI had reported how despite being away from the city, she had ensured that the maintenance and taxes reached the society on time.