Mumbai, April 27 (IANS) A shocking incident has come to light in Mumbai, where a man allegedly murdered his elderly sister following a family dispute and dumped her body in a drainage line in Andheri, police said on Monday.

The accused, Josef Thomas Coelho (63), a resident of Andheri’s Marol area, lived with his 80-year-old sister, Blanche Sequeira.

According to police, an argument broke out between the siblings on the night of January 10 over family-related issues. During the altercation, Coelho allegedly lost his temper and shoved his sister out of the house. Sequeira fell due to the impact and died on the spot.

Realising that his sister had died, Coelho allegedly attempted to cover up the death by disposing of her body the same night in a municipal drainage line located within the premises of Mumbai International Airport Limited.

He then fled the scene and later filed a false missing person complaint at the Andheri Police Station to mislead authorities.

The case came to light on April 24, when workers of the BMC discovered a body while cleaning a drain in Andheri East. The police were immediately informed, following which the body was retrieved and sent to Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle West for post-mortem examination. Due to advanced decomposition, identification was initially difficult.

However, the deceased was eventually identified through her silver bangles and earrings. Police matched these with a photograph submitted earlier by Coelho at Sahar Police Station, where he had reported her missing.

During the course of the investigation, police questioned neighbours and later subjected Coelho to sustained interrogation, during which he confessed to accidentally killing his sister by pushing her.

Police have also booked Coelho’s wife, Maria, for allegedly attempting to conceal the crime despite having prior knowledge of it. Both have been arrested, and further investigation is underway.

–IANS

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