Mumbai:
In a bizarre turn of events, Shivram Thakur would have been the first man to attend his own funeral after another man, who was undergoing treatment under his identity, expired.
On August 25, authorities at Sion Hospital declared Thakur, a resident of Savitribai Phule Nagar in Ghatkopar, dead, much to the astonishment of Thakur and his family.
Investigations carried out by Pant Nagar police revealed that Sharda Pawar, a friend of Thakur, admitted her brother Babu Vijaykar under Thakur's name to provide him medical aid.
It was learnt that Babu was a drunkard and a drug addict, who had escaped from hospital many times before.
However, on August 17, when his condition deteriorated and Sharda was sure that the hospital authorities would not admit him to the detoxification ward because of his earlier escapes, she planned to admit Babu under Thakur's name to Sion Hospital.
Unfortunately for Sharda, her plans went awry when Babu died on August 25 and the police ran a background check on Thakur's residence and found him hale and hearty.
Sharda was arrested yesterday for misguiding hospital staff. Investigating official Assistant Inspector N M Kasar from Pant Nagar police station, said, "She is being charged for using false documents, electronic records and cheating government officials."
According to the police, the needle of suspicion pointed towards Sharda when she obtained a no-objection certificate (NOC) to cremate Babu in the name of Thakur.
"Sharda is now facing charges under sections 420 (forgery), 468( forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using forged document or electronic record),182 (false information), 34 (common intention) of the IPC," said Kasar.
He added that Thakur's statement had been recorded as part of the ongoing investigation and that Sharda would be produced before the magistrate.