Sons at war over missing crorepati father, HC orders search

The younger son has alleged that his brother, sister-in-law and aunt were responsible for his father’s disappearance
MUMBAI: A 60-year-old, HIV+ and bed-ridden Vaman Gawde (name changed) went missing from his Chembur home on January 28. His sons are now holding each other responsible for his disappearance. In the meanwhile, the Bombay High Court has directed the police to conduct a “rigorous search” for Gawde.
Gawde’s younger son Babu moved the court against his brother Ashok, his wife Sunita and his father’s sister Jaibai Pawar alleging that his father had gone missing at their instance. In his petition, Babu said his father, who lived with Ashok and his family had contracted HIV some years back. Over the few months before he went missing, his condition had worsened and he was confined to his bed.
“He did not even have the strength to stand up and had to be carried to the toilet”, Babu told DNA on Sunday.
What makes things murkier, as per Babu’s petition, is that his father had asked his children — Babu, Ashok and their three sisters — to assemble in his house on January 21 and expressed his desire to make a will. However, Babu alleged that he was dissuaded from doing so by Ashok and his aunt.
“Seven days after he had expressed the desire to make a will, my father went missing from my brother’s home in the early hours of January 28. Doesn’t that say something?” asked Babu. He also stated that when his father was hospitalised in December 2007, he had told him that he had purchased property worth Rs1 crore and had lent money to the tune of Rs1 crore to several hoteliers.
Mayura Janwalkar Monday, May 05, 2008 03:20 IST