Pune: Missing Dead Body Claim At Ruby Hall Clinic Triggers Confusion; Hospital Issues Clarification
Pune: Missing Dead Body Claim At Ruby Hall Clinic Triggers Confusion; Hospital Issues Clarification
Pune, January 21, 2026: Ruby Hall Clinic has strongly denied media reports claiming that a dead body went missing from its Sassoon Road facility, terming the allegations as false and misleading.
Clarifying the issue, Ali Daruwala, Advisor at Ruby Hall Clinic, stated that the body was temporarily shifted to Ruby Hall Clinic, Wanowrie, as the cold storage facility at the Sassoon Road hospital was undergoing repair work. He confirmed that the body was later handed over to the relatives of the deceased in the presence of police officials. According to the hospital, the delay in handing over the body led to confusion and subsequent misinformation.
The controversy arose after relatives of a 55-year-old woman, identified as Smita Bhagat from Akluj, alleged that her body had gone missing from the hospital. Smita Bhagat was admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic on Sunday, January 18, for treatment and passed away during treatment at around 10 pm on Monday, January 19.
The relatives claimed that despite repeated follow-ups, the hospital administration avoided handing over the body. On Tuesday, January 20, the body was reportedly brought in another ambulance and handed over to the family in the presence of police, prompting the relatives to raise objections and demand action against the hospital administration.
According to information provided by Nikhil Patil, a friend of the deceased woman’s son, Smita Bhagat was initially admitted to a hospital in Baramati due to pneumonia and low platelet count. As her condition worsened, she was referred to Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune on January 18. After her death on January 19, the family completed formalities to keep the body in the mortuary, as it was not feasible to transport it to their native village in Malshiras taluka late at night.
On Tuesday, when the family requested the body, they were allegedly told it was being held up due to gate pass issues. Even by 3 pm, the gate pass had not been issued. After heated arguments, the hospital’s security head reportedly informed them that the body was in another ambulance and compelled them to take custody in the presence of police around 4 pm.
The relatives also expressed suspicion that the body had remained outside the mortuary for a prolonged period, citing its condition. They approached the Koregaon Park Police Station to lodge a complaint, where police reportedly informed them that an inquiry would be conducted within two days before registering a case.
Responding to these allegations, Ruby Hall Clinic reiterated that claims of the body going missing from the Sassoon Road facility are completely incorrect. The hospital maintained that the body was shifted temporarily due to cold storage repairs and was duly handed over to the relatives on Tuesday in the presence of police officials. The hospital added that the misunderstanding arose solely due to the delay in the handover process.
— Ali Daruwala, Advisor, Ruby Hall Clinic
