Eighteen months after Thrity Pithawala, a grandmaster of Ikebana passed away, her sister Silu Bhagwagar has filed a First Information Report (FIR) alleging that Pithawala’s physiotherapist D. Khan who was treating Pithawala stole her valuables worth Rs 1.13 crore when she was bedridden, stated the MumbaiMirror (MM) of October 28, 2019. A founder member of the Bombay chapter of the Ohara School of Ikebana which taught the Japanese art of floral arrangement, Pithawala passed away at 81 years of age on June 4, 2018.
Bhagwagar’s FIR alleges that "several pieces of jewelry, share certificates and fixed deposit papers have gone missing from Pithawala’s house.” The FIR stated that Pithawala suffered a fall and had to undergo surgery in 2016 as a result of which she was unable to walk properly. In September 2016, when her health started deteriorating, she was admitted to a private hospital where she reportedly received treatment from Khan. "Later, the accused would also come to her house for physiotherapy sessions,” stated MM. As per the news report, Bhagwagar’s FIR alleged that "after her sister’s death she visited her house and found several valuable items missing. She said that Khan, who would come to her sister’s house regularly, gained her trust and siphoned off jewelry and important documents.” An unnamed police officer was quoted in the report as stating: "Bhagwagar has also claimed that Khan would use her sister’s Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) card…We have registered the FIR against him under sections 379 (theft), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code,” reportedly stated the police officer.