Poonam was last seen in Jersey City, New Jersey on April 1, 2000. She has never been heard from again. She is believed to have been abducted by her mother, Bela Sharma Limbachia, and an adult male companion, Muhammed Sheikh. Federal warrants for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution were issued for Bela and Sheikh on June 2, 2000. Photographs of them are unavailable. Bela's date of birth is June 4, 1972, making her twenty-seven years old when she abducted her daughter. She is described as a 5'4, 140-pound Asian female with black hair and hazel eyes. Sheikh's date of birth is February 3, 1969; he was thiry-one years old in 2000. He is described as a 5'4, 140-pound Caucasian male with brown hair and brown eyes.

Poonam may be in Pakistan. Her case remains unsolved. Edison, New Jersey police are investigating.