Son dead, family to foot Rs22 lakh hospital bill

“God takes away the people he loves most. So He took him early,” said Ronald Fernandes after his son Reuben's funeral at Amboli Church on Tuesday afternoon.

Even as the family is mourning his death, they are worried about how to pay the hospital bill, which has totalled to around Rs22 lakh.

Ten days after a gang of men stabbed a 24-year-old to death and grievously injured Reuben when they protested the eve-teasing of their friends outside a fine dining restaurant and bar in Andheri, Reuben succumbed to his injuries in Kokilaben Hospital.

“The family also has to pay Fernandes' hospital bill of Rs22 lakh, of which Rs13 lakh is outstanding," said Valentine Silveira, a family friend.

“It is tragic that the family is yet to come to terms with his death and now has to worry about paying the bill," said Rocky Thomas, a neighbour. 

More than 500 people, including policemen and politicians attended the funeral.

On October 21, Fernandes, his brother Benjamin, Keenan Sentos, Avinash Bali and their three female friends were standing near a paan shop after dinner when four drunken men passed by.

One of the men fell on a woman and a brawl broke out between the two groups. The men retreated only to return with a large group. They assaulted Sentos and Fernandes and stabbed them. Sentos died in a hospital, while Fernandes was battling for his life in the hospital for 10 days.

The police arrested at least 21 men in the case.