The tossing of bodies for post-mortem from one hospital to another appears to have resurfaced, with St George’s Hospital and GT Hospital in south Mumbai sending the body of a 22-year-old back and forth in the wee hours of Monday. Forensic surgeons have warned against such a practice saying it is against the hospital administration manual and circulars issued by a former police surgeon.

Anil Kumar Thakur, 22, came to work in Mumbai a year ago from Bahuara village, Bihar. A casual labourer earning Rs 500 on the days he found work, Anil shared a room at Ganesh Murti Nagar, Cuffe Parade, with three others. “On Sunday, September 24, Anil was unwell and skipped work. He consumed liquor in the evening, had egg curry with rice for dinner and fell asleep while using the mobile phone. A little past 1:30 am on September 25, Anil became restless and within the next few minutes, he became motionless. We rushed him to St George’s Hospital where the doctors declared him dead,” said Anil’s roommate, Shivshankar, who works as a security guard at Maker Tower.