21-year-old maid hangs herself, family blames employer

A 21-year-old domestic help allegedly committed suicide at her employer's residence in Vile Parle (East) on Monday.

The Vile Parle police have registered a case of accidental death and said that as of now they don't suspect any foul play. They are are waiting for the post-mortem report to ascertain the cause of death. However, the deceased's family has alleged that she had complained to her elder brother a month ago about her employer's wife harassing her.

According to the police, Vidhya Sadanand Nathenekar had come to Mumbai three years ago and started working at the residence of a Andheri businessman, Dinesh Jani, who lives near Chakala cigarette factory.

The incident took place on Monday between 4pm and 5pm, when Jani's wife was sleeping. Nathenekar hung herself in the storeroom. Jani's wife woke up at 5.30pm and found her hanging.

"She informed other family members and the police. Nathenekar was taken to Cooper hospital, where she was declared 'dead on arrival'," said a police officer.

"Two other helps also work at Jani's place. Vijal, 32, cooks, and Mina, 60, does other household chores, for the last 40 years, but they don't stay at Jani's place. Nathenekar, however, was living there and prepared tea and did some chores," said another officer.

Nathenekar's maternal uncle Prabhakar, who lives in Vile Parle, said, "She had called her elder brother, Ganesh, and complained that Jani's wife shouted at her every time for work. She was frustrated and wanted to return to her native place. Ganesh asked her to wait a month, but he didn't know she was so upset that she would take such a drastic step."

"We will record the statements of the other helps and the deceased's family members," said senior inspector Prakash Rane.