Several cases of corpses getting exchanged or lying unclaimed in the hospitals have been reported in Mumbai during the coronavirus pandemic. In what can be called a bizarre — and equally tragic — incident, a dead body has been missing from a government hospital in Ghatkopar since the last nine days. The family has been wandering door to door in search of the corpse but so far it has only got assurances.
They are upset and protesting. The mother says she “will not go until my son’s corpse is found”. His mother is crying, with a photo of her son in hand, asking for his body from the hospital.
Meraj Sheikh, a resident of Govandi area of Mumbai, aged 27, was attacked by his uncle along with his sons with a knife. He was declared dead when brought to Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar. Now, as per the rules, when a person has been declared dead, he is tested for coronavirus after which the post-mortem is carried on. Meraj was tested Covidpositive but the corpse disappeared from the hospital before the post-mortem could be done.
The entire hospital has been searched but to no avail. The family is enquiring hospital administration relentlessly but so far no concrete answer has been given. Meanwhile, a complaint of the missing dead body has been lodged in Tilak Nagar Police Station. Meraj’s uncle and his sons have been arrested for murder by the Deonar police.
When spoken to Vidya Thakur, the Medical Superintendent of Rajawadi Hospital, he said: “The work is going on. We are making every possible effort to find Meraj Sheikh’s body as soon as possible.” He added, “We are also seeing whether his body has gone to someone else.”
Shiraz Sheikh, the brother of the deceased, suspects the alleged murderers have stolen the corpse to weaken the case. However, the police are investigating if any conspiracy is involved in the case.
