Missing man’s body in morgue for 6 months,police didn’t check

Those suspended are ASI Sharda Devi,ASI Ramesh Chander and Head Constable Anirudh Tyagi. While the two ASIs worked at the Nihal Vihar police station,Tyagi was posted at the Uttam Nagar police station.

According to police,a missing report on one Saroj Poddar (35) was filed by his family members at the Uttam Nagar police station on August 2. Two days later,the man was found unconscious on the main road near Nihal Vihar police station. He was taken to the DDU Hospital by the two ASIs of Nihal Vihar police station and admitted there.

Saroj died at the DDU Hospital on August 18,following which his body was taken to the mortuary without conducting a post mortem. Also,no effort was made by the police personnel of the Nihal Vihar police station to trace his family members,the officer added.

“While Saroj was at the hospital,his wife kept visiting the Uttam Nagar police station but Head Constable Anirudh Tyagi,who was given the case,did not bother to check with other police stations and hospitals. The two ASIs from Nihal Vihar police station should also have got in touch with other police stations through ZIP net and informed them about the case. Saroj’s body was lying in the mortuary all these months while his wife was searching for him,” the officer said.

A few days ago,policemen at the DDU police post checked the antecedents of the body kept in the mortuary and informed other police stations about it. Probing deeper,police managed to link the two cases,and realised their mistake.

V Renganathan,Additional Commissioner of Police ( West),confirmed the incident and the suspension of the three police personnel.

“When police learnt of the identity of the person in the mortuary,we informed his kin. The three police officials were negligent in dealing with the case. The role of each will be probed in the inquiry. The ACP of Nangloi sub-division is conducting the inquiry. A postmortem of the body was conducted today,” Renganathan said.