Three years after his mother disappeared and her skeletal remains were discovered a month later, Santosh Gawade from Khanapur taluk in Belagavi district remains entangled in a battle to gain custody of the remains to perform her last rites. His efforts have been stalled by legal and procedural hurdles, leaving him in a state of prolonged distress.
Rukmini, 50, worked as a domestic helper in Betane village and nearby Goa. She had reportedly experienced marital conflicts over financial matters and went missing on December 29, 2021. Unable to locate her, Santosh, now 33, filed a missing person complaint with the Khanapur police. On January 28, 2022, skeletal remains were found in the Betane forest by a cowherd. DNA tests later confirmed the remains belonged to Rukmini.
Santosh suspects foul play, alleging his mother was murdered and her body discarded in the forest. Disillusioned with the system, he turned to a reclusive life, dedicating himself as a volunteer at the Iskcon-managed Gokuldham in Chikhale. Over the years, he met various officials, including then-SP Laxman Nimbaragi, who had the remains exhumed and sent for DNA testing. Despite his efforts, the police declined to release the remains.
In January 2024, Santosh escalated the matter, writing to ADGP Alok Kumar. Following his appeal, SP Bhimashankar Guled launched an inquiry but clarified that the remains could only be obtained through court orders. “Once sent for testing, such remains become court property, and we cannot release them directly,” he stated. The SP also noted that the police investigation into Rukmini’s suspected murder, based on evidence provided by Santosh, did not yield actionable findings.
Santosh insists on a fair investigation, accusing his father of involvement, citing that he withdrew money from Rukmini’s bank account shortly after her death and had argued with her a day before she went missing. Environmentalist Ravindra Saini, who supports Santosh’s quest for justice, criticized the situation, calling it “cruel and unjust” to deny a grieving son the ability to perform his mother’s last rites.
