2 min readMumbaiAug 21, 2014 01:01 AM IST
First published on: Aug 21, 2014 at 01:01 AM IST
Khalsa family receives the body on Wednesday morning. (Source: Express photo by Prashant Nadkar)
At 8.30 am on Wednesday, an ambulance carrying the body of 38-year-old Jitender Singh Khalsa, who was found dead at the Doha International Airport on November 25 last year, arrived at a small nondescript cluster of apartments in Chembur east.
The son had returned home, nine months after dying under mysterious circumstances, while working for a construction firm in Qatar. “I was never thrilled about Jitender moving to Qatar. However, it was his decision. But none of that matters now that my son has returned home in a box,” said his father, Baldev Singh Khalsa (72).
In September 2013, Jitender moved to Qatar to work as a clerk with Qatar Construction and Engineering (QCon). Only two months later, he was found dead in the departure lounge of the airport, while, as QCon claims, he about to board a flight to Mumbai.
According to the Doha Health Department, Khalsa died of acute heart and respiratory failure. However, his family cries foul. He is survived by his wife Sonia and nine-year-old daughter Sakshi.
“My son hardly called and whenever he did, he made quick conversations. I last spoke to Jitender on November 18 last year, when like always, he had inquired about my health and I asked him if he was doing well,” Baldev said.
After months of struggle with QCon, the Khalsa family approached the Bombay High Court, which directed the company to immediately send back the body.
Though the body was ready to be flown to Mumbai on August 7, lack of proper certifications held it back. The family finally brought him home early on Wednesday morning. The arrival was soured, as QCon did not send original documents pertaining to Jitender’s stay, postmortem certificate and observations of the local police. “Since August 7, we made phone calls to all the officials concerned every day,” said Baldev.
Thoughts of the legal battle have now been put on the back-burner. “That’s not something we want to think about for the next few days,” said Jitender’s younger brother Dilip.
srinath.rao@expressindia.com
Khalsa family receives the body on Wednesday morning. (Source: Express photo by Prashant Nadkar)
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