The plight of the Parsi elderly residing alone and dependent on domestic caregivers and/or servants was vividly brought out in the case of 77-year-old Dadar resident Yezdiar Edel Behram who had passed away on October 8, 2020.
After an enquiry that lasted over a year, the Police registered on December 15, 2021 a case of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide not amounting to murder against caretaker Mangal Gaikwad and her son Krishna, according to a report in The Indian Express (IE) of December 18, 2021. The duo has been charged with "intentionally ignoring an ill senior citizen, resulting in his death.” Mangal, who reportedly claimed that she had married Behram, has also been booked for destruction of evidence along with Krishna.
Reportedly, the incident came to light when an unnamed priest at Doongerwadi called Behram’s daughter Natasha Sethna when Mangal brought Behram’s remains to Doongerwadi. (The IE report consistently referred to Doongerwadi as a crematorium.) Reportedly, the senior citizen was being looked after by Mangal since 2016, having been hired by Sethna who resides in Andheri. "As per Sethna’s statement to the police, since 2020 Mangal would not let her talk to her father frequently. ‘My father often told me to meet him in Mangal’s absence but she made sure that she was always present,’ she added,” according to the IE report.
Sethna’s complaint stated that Behram was critically ill on October 5, 2020. Mangal was advised by a medico to hospitalize him. The complaint alleged that Mangal refused, saying that she did not have any money. Three days later, as Behram reportedly lost consciousness, Mangal is said to have rushed him to King Edward Memorial Hospital but he died before he could be treated. Reportedly, the doctors at the Hospital even informed the Matunga police station about the incident but before the police could reach there, Krishna went to the police station and handed over an alleged fake death certificate stating that Behram had died under natural circumstances, the complaint stated, noted IE.
"After getting the no-objection certificate from the police station, they took his remains for last rites. A priest at (Doongerwadi) knew the family and called up Behram’s daughter,” an unnamed police officer told IE. When Sethna reached Doongerwadi, "the office-bearers (reportedly) told (her) that Mangal had shown them a marriage certificate, stating that she was married to Behram,” said the officer.
"After conducting the final rites, when Natasha went to her father’s house, Mangal (reportedly) did not allow her to enter and said that she was now the owner of the house,” the officer added. Sethna then approached the Matunga police and filed her complaint. During inquiry, the police came to know that Behram and Mangal were said to have been married in February 2020 (according to Parsiana records, the marriage took place on January 22). "We believe it was done to usurp the property,” alleged the officer.
"So far, we have ascertained that (Mangal) intentionally did not take him to hospital, leading to his death,” the paper quoted deputy commissioner of police Vijay Patil (Zone IV) as stating. The statements of Mangal, the doctors and other people involved are being recorded, said Patil. F. J.