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The mother of the 24-year-old woman who was allegedly illegally repatriated to Mumbai from Abu Dhabi last month told mid-day that doctors at Andheri’s SevenHills Hospital, where her daughter is receiving treatment, made it clear that the young woman will have to be discharged soon, failing which, the police would be involved. The mother, however, said the family has no source of income and their Versova home is too small to facilitate the recovery of the patient, who cannot eat, walk or talk. 

According to the woman’s mother, the 24-year-old is running a fever, probably due to an infection, and the doctors have advised her to discharge her once it subsides. The mother, however, said that her financial condition is extremely weak. “I have two younger daughters who are still studying. My oldest daughter was our sole breadwinner. The family has no source of income to pay for her medical care,” she said.

The mother (seated, right) and younger sisters of the 24-year-old woman at their Versova residence on Thursday. PICS/NIMESH DAVE

Appealing to the authorities and the public to help save her daughter’s life, the mother stated that the family’s home is extremely small and can barely accommodate everyone. She also emphasised that the patient needs to be kept in a hygienic environment, and staying in such a cramped space could worsen her health further.

Police investigation

The Kandivli police station initially received the patient’s medico-legal case (MLC) files from Shatabdi Hospital, where the woman was brought on her arrival to the city via an air ambulance on June 19. Due to a lack of adequate medical facilities at Shatabdi, the patient was transferred to SevenHills Hospital. On June 20, after informing the MIDC police, under whose jurisdiction it falls, SevenHills Hospital forwarded the MLC documents to the Versova police station, as the family resides in the area. Hence, the investigation will be carried out by the Versova police.

The mother of the 24-year-old woman at her Versova residence on Thursday. PIC/NIMESH DAVE

The victim’s family, meanwhile, has submitted a written complaint naming the individuals allegedly responsible for the woman’s condition to the Mumbai commissioner of police as well as the Versova police station. The woman’s mother stated that she had received a call from a Versova police officer. Since most officers were engaged in Muharram bandobast duty at the time, the officer contacted her by phone and mentioned that she would be called for a statement soon.

Doctor Speak

Hospital sources stated that the patient had been in the ICU for more than 20 days and her condition had not improved. They said the chances of her contracting an infection were very high. “In fact, she has already developed a fever, indicating that she may have been impacted,” a source said.

A doctor, speaking on the condition of anonymity, expressed similar concerns. “Keeping her in the ICU could be more harmful to her health, as the ICU is filled with infected patients. The risk of cross-infection is high, and the woman is vulnerable.”

He added, “We are treating her to control and eliminate the infection, and then we will discharge the patient. There are many NGOs in the city that the family can approach for assistance. We have suggested exploring such options.”

Email to embassy

This newspaper had sent an email to the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi regarding the case. In response, Arpit Jain, first secretary (press, information and culture) and head of chancery, advised the reporter to contact the external publicity and public diplomacy (XPD) division at the ministry of external affairs, New Delhi, for further queries. Following this, the reporter emailed the XPD division. However, no response has been received so far.

Police Speak

mid-day contacted Senior Inspector Gajanan Pawar of Versova police station, who said they had received the complaint. PSI Balasaheb Takmoge, attached to Versova police station appointed as investigating officer in the case, said, “We have received a complaint in this regard and have initiated an investigation. We will call the complainant today [July 11] to record her statement and take necessary action accordingly.”