Old, fragile ... and scheming?

84-year-old says nieces keep her confined to one room, lock bathroom as they want to harass her into quitting prime property, but nieces say she defecates inside rooms to harass them into leaving home

Jini Anklesaria timidly opened the door to her four BHK apartment in the Gowalia Tank building, in the same area, relieved at seeing the police officers.

The 84-year-old had called a friend, who in turn called the police, alleging she was being harassed by her nieces over a property dispute.

Walking slowly around the house, Jini said her nieces, Dinaz (50) and Armin (48), both lawyers who live with her in the tenanted apartment over the last 40 years, would pour water on the floor so that she would slip and hurt herself, sprinkle her bed with salt for the same reason and keep her closeted in one room by locking all the other rooms and even the bathroom. All so that, alleges Jini, because the women want to grab the property.

Assistant Sub Inspector R H Patel of the Gamdevi police station, who visited the apartment, found the rooms and toilet locked.

"We found the complaint to be true and have recorded her statement. The matter will be discussed with superior officers and the course of action decided.

The police will visit her regularly to check on her." Preliminary inquires have revealed that Jini was not registered with the senior citizen helpline or with the local police.

Nieces say

Dinaz and Armin, both singletons, have denied the allegations. "Fact is, she has been harassing us.

Yes, we locked the toilets and rooms, but were compelled to do so as she would harass us by urinating and passing stool in the rooms and then expect us to clean up.

She does not wash her linen for months; her room is in a mess and she does not allow any dusting.

What can we do? In fact her refrigerator is filled with milk bags, unused for months," said Jini's nieces. When the police opened the fridge, they did find stacks of unused milk packets.

The other man

The women alleged that Jini was acting on the behest of a Fali Dhondy, proprietor of Fedco Paints and a resident of Napean Sea road, who was eyeing the four-bed room apartment.
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"She is taking advantage of being a senior citizen and has lodged five false complaints against us with the police, saying we harassed her. In fact, we are taking care of her.
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She has no other source of income," said Armin Fali Dhondy rubbished the allegations. He said, "My only interest is that the two women take care of Jini and not harass her by locking rooms and toilets.

I have no interest in their property or their financial dispute. Since I am known to the family for last four decades, and was close to their late uncle Jamshed and their late father Bejan, I feel they should respect their old aunt and live together amicably."

The women allege that Jini wanted them out of the house. "If we had to harass her, we would have filed suits against her, but we didn't and she did and [later withdrew them].

We have proof and documents to establish our claim," said Dinaz.

5,382
Calls to the Mumbai police last year from senior citizens, saying they were lonely

3,905
Number of registered senior citizens (single) with the u00a0Mumbai police

Statistical figures from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008

Total Calls received 17,775

Answered calls 15,010

Hung up calls on Interactive Voice Recording (IVR)- 2765

Total Loneliness call- 5,382

Traffic Information- 86

Abuse by family 55

Threat- 46

House breaking attempt, robbery etc- 101

Medical help- 81

Inquires regarding helpline for senior citizens- 1262

Complaints against maid servants- 266

Gas connection 3

Electricity and other bill payment 12

Other domestic help -1357