MEET INDIA’S FIRST FEMALE DETECTIVE MS. RAJANI PANDIT
A detective is born, not made.
Success is a product of learning from experiences and failures—a product of our life, our experiences, and the people we meet along the way. This is the stuff that shapes us and builds our world, it comes from within, not from an expert or a guru.
When talking about a country like India, even the most daring of men are frightened of investigating a violent crime, however, a woman who has solved over 80,000 cases in a career that spans over 22 years has made her mark. Mumbai-based Rajani Pandit has to her account the edgy brilliance of being the first female private detective in India. In her 25 years of experience, she has solved over 80,000 cases.
She began her work as a private detective when she was merely 22-years-old.
Having 57 awards and thousands of cases solved at National and International Level, Rajani is a woman of exemplary distinction.
As her father worked with the CID, Pandit feels that it helped her learn the art of a “thorough investigation”.
Each day you get a new case; and in many of them, you have to play a dual role. Like a teacher and student both. Decision making as per the circumstance is very essential in the making of a detective. Any cases can ask you for a solution.
She was in college when she became interested in investigation for the first time: “I realised that if you look around carefully, you will find many problems and mysteries in many houses. Problems that people can’t solve themselves and need external help with. But they don’t have any evidence and don’t know where to go. That’s when an investigator comes into the picture.”
Rajani Pandit recalls her toughest case till date. She was assigned the task of gathering proof for a murder investigation. She went undercover as a maid for the prime suspect woman for six months to find out who killed a father and his son.
When she fell sick, I took care of her and gained her trust slowly. But once, during pin-drop silence, my recorder made a ‘click’ sound. And that’s when she started doubting me. She refrained me from going out at all.
Then one day, the hitman who she hired, came to pay her a visit. That’s when I knew it was my chance. So I cut my foot with a knife and told them that I had to go out to get bandaged. I ran out, went to an STD booth and called the client to come home with the police. They were both arrested that day!
Rajani acknowledges the hardships and obstacles she has faced as a spy in this society. She has faced her setbacks and yet came out stronger. She now has a team of 20 people and her agency helping people across the globe.
I’ve also received a few threats here and there–but my work is clean, my mind is clear and my courage is unwavering. But most of all…I’m a homegrown, desi Sherlock — how’s that for a Resumé opener?
More Power to her and to all our readers.
Author’s bio:
A vivacious and lively girl living in Delhi, on her voyage for exploration of
colours in life.
A glimpse of what she does: Read, write, eat, Repeat!
