Police were in for a shock after discovering 90-year-old Govind Ram Jethani, had spent four days with the corpse of his wife in his home in Kalkaji. He came out of his home on Monday morning and asked a neighbour for help When the police came to his house he asked them to be quiet, lest they wake up the maggot-infested corpse on the floor.
His wife, 85-year-old Gopi died of natural causes, though people who knew the childless couple in the neighbourhood suspect malnourishment killed her.
Police also suspect that Jethani is probably mentally disturbed, and is suffering from urban loneliness, a disorder that exacerbates as a person grows older and his finances and friends dwindle. A nephew f his was traced from Safdarjund Enclave who said the couple had adopted him when he was young, but a dispute ended the relationship. “But I have been sending them money.” Jethani’s brother, Roopchand, however, said, “the couple never adopted anyone.”
Another relative said Jethani owned a garment business, but some of his relatives usurped it.
The couple seldom interacted with anyone and always kept their doors and windows shut.
“I last saw Gopi aunty around four months ago. Uncle used to take a walk, but he had stopped it a few days ago,” said Pramod Kumar, a lawyer and neighbour.
