Neighbors in Malad East had reported a pungent odor emanating from a closed daycare centre. The complaint prompted a Mumbai Police squad to enter the premises. Inside, they discovered a body wrapped in plastic, still preserved after four years. The body was identified by police as the father of the woman who ran the daycare.
The father died of a heart attack in June 2022, according to the mother’s statement. Rather than following customary cremation rites, she hired a foreign‑based preservation company to keep his remains intact. The mother has retained legal counsel to defend her actions.
Police are treating the case as a potential violation of the Indian Penal Code. The investigation will assess whether the preservation constituted illegal possession of a corpse. The mother’s lawyer has said she intends to argue that her actions were driven by filial devotion.
Residents of the nearby apartment complex say the stench had ruined their gardens and daily life. A resident recalled calling the police after the smell intensified overnight. The incident has sparked debate over mortuary regulations in urban India.
The next step will be a formal charge sheet, expected to be filed by the Mumbai District Court. The mother will face a hearing in the coming weeks, while the city’s health department will review its oversight of closed child care facilities.