Cops to exhume Vashi man’s body

Police will send the body for a forensic test to ascertain cause of death. Representation pic

Vashi police will exhume the body of a 38-year-old businessman from Nerul four months after he died in a road mishap. Sohail Munshi's wife had said he died of a heart attack, but his sister has alleged foul play. The incident is reminiscent of the mysterious death of two siblings from Versova in 2012. Police had exhumed one of their bodies after doctors said a post-mortem was needed. The police later found out the mother's negligence to inform her children about the pest control at home resulted in the deaths.

Police informed the magistrate court on Wednesday that they will exhume Sohail's body. They will on Thursday approach the tehsildar for a date for exhumation, after which it will be sent for a forensic examination to ascertain the cause of death. The Nerul resident had died of a heart attack on May 12, according to his widow Nabiha and doctor. Nabihahad said that while driving on the Vashi Creek Bridge, Sohail suffered a heart attack and the car crossed over to the other lane and dashed into a container. With the help of an auto driver, Sohail was rushed to MGM hospital in Vashi. Their family doctor arrived there and told the doctors there that he had a history of heart ailment, and issued a death certificate. The family opposed the autopsy and the body was buried in Kopar Khairne.

Foul play allegation

However, recently, his sister, Nahid Siddiqui, 35, filed a complaint at Vashi police station, alleging foul play, said police. She claimed to have spoken to one of Sohail's children who told her that Nabiha was driving the car that night. "We questioned the auto driver and he said he saw Sohail's body being removed from the seat next to the driver's," said a Vashi police officer. In her complaint, Nahid also alleged that Nabiha had eye on the money invested by Sohail in various companies and also the insurance money. "The family has claimed Sohail's wife tried to get the invested money and also the insurance money of R50 crore. We are verifying the claims," said an officer.

Police summon wife, doctor

Police summoned the wife, other family members and the family doctor. "We want to know if Sohail died of some internal injury, poisoning or a heart attack. Because his wife had claimed that he was driving the car that night. Prima facie, there is some suspicion over the private [family] doctor's role as well. We need a thorough probe to clarify things," said an officer privy to the investigation.

"After getting the new information, we registered an offence against Nabiha under Sections 182 (giving wrong information) and 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC and relevant Sections of Motor Vehicles Act," said Ramesh Chavhan, senior inspector of Vashi police station.