Mumbai family spent Rs 50 lakh preserving body since 2022

The family of an 80-year-old Mumbai man who died in 2022 has preserved his body for four years, spending over Rs 50 lakh, police said on 30 September. The body was found on 28 September at a Malad polyclinic after a tip-off. The family cited 'deep emotional attachment' and researched cryonics, contacting a US organisation about long-term preservation. Police have not registered a case and are studying the law.

The man died of natural causes after suffering from cancer, kidney failure and age-related ailments, police said. The body was initially kept in a home freezer and later moved to the clinic when the building underwent redevelopment. The family, including a lawyer daughter, is deciding between sending the body to a US cryonics facility or performing last rites. Police personnel remain posted at the clinic.

Update, 30 September 2026: Times of India now reports the family spent more than Rs 50 lakh and researched US cryonics facilities, hoping future science could enable revival. The outlet adds that preservation packages cost between $28,000 and $45,000, and that police have not registered a case.