Mumbai/Hyderabad Sept. 30 (Maxim News): Police recovered the body of a 78-year-old man from a freezer at a former daycare centre in Malad East, nearly four years after his death in June 2022.
The body was found at a premises in Konkani Pada, Kurar Village, after residents noticed a foul smell and alerted the police. The incident came to light as the property was being considered for redevelopment.
The man’s daughter, who is in her 40s, had allegedly kept his body at the premises since June 2022. Police said she was deeply attached to her father and wanted to preserve his body indefinitely.
The man had been suffering from cancer and died after a heart attack on June 9, 2022. His family produced a death certificate showing that the death was natural. Police have said there was no initial indication of foul play.
The daycare centre had stopped functioning about a month before the body was discovered. The landlord had sought to vacate the premises because the property was due for redevelopment.
Police said the daughter lives in Andheri West. During the inquiry, she told investigators that she and her brother had contacted a US-based organisation involved in body preservation.
The family was reportedly exploring the possibility of eventually shifting the body to the US. They had been saving money for the process, seeking legal advice and communicating with the organisation.
According to The Week, the family was reportedly paying around ₹1.60 lakh every month to keep the body preserved at the centre.
Police Examine How Body Remained There for Four Years
The premises had earlier been rented by the landlord to a person identified as Abdul Rehman in early 2022. Rehman subsequently handed over the premises to another management, which operated a clinic there.
The landlord told police that he was unaware that the body had been kept inside the premises.
Police recorded statements from the landlord, daycare centre operators and members of the deceased man’s family. Investigators are examining how the body remained inside the premises for nearly four years and who knew about the arrangement.
The family had reportedly explored long-term body preservation and also researched cryonics, an experimental practice involving preservation at extremely low temperatures with the hope of possible future revival. However, cryonics should not be presented as an established or legally recognised method of reviving deceased people.
Some reports have also mentioned claims about the family’s belief in rebirth. Those claims are not established by the primary police account and therefore require caution.
Police have not treated the death itself as a murder case. The available information indicates that the man died in 2022 and that his death was recorded as natural.
The case has nevertheless raised questions about the legal and practical aspects of preserving a body for such a long period. Separate reporting on the issue notes that India does not have a specific nationwide time limit for preserving a dead body, while local health regulations and procedures apply.
Police said the family will decide whether to conduct the last rites or hand over the body to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation after obtaining the required certificate and paying applicable legal charges.
The investigation is continuing as police examine the circumstances surrounding the preservation and storage of the body. (Maxim News)
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