Court orders exhumation: Body of Kannur native removed from qabr for forensic probe

KANNUR: The body of a 45-year-old man from Chakkarakkal, who died during treatment at a government hospital in Bengaluru, has been exhumed from a graveyard here to conduct a post-mortem examination following allegations of medical negligence. The procedures at the Iriveri Hidayatul Islam Sabha Juma Masjid graveyard were executed following an order issued by the Taliparamba Sub-Divisional Magistrate Court.

The deceased, C.V. Shanavas, a resident of Naseera Manzil near Noorul Huda Madrasa in Muthukutty, Chakkarakkal, passed away while undergoing treatment after a surgery for piles at the Victoria Government Hospital in Bengaluru. He had been buried at the graveyard on March 16.

Following his death, Shanavas’s wife, Sherly, lodged a complaint with the Bengaluru Police alleging medical negligence. The complaint stated that a post-mortem examination had not been conducted at the time of death. She further alleged that the surgery was performed in a hospital ward using the light of a mobile torch, and accused the hospital authorities of behaving in a highly irresponsible manner.

As the Karnataka Police decided that a detailed scientific examination was required to investigate the case, they contacted the Kerala Police and revenue authorities. A Karnataka Police team arrived at Iriveri, and the post-mortem was performed under the leadership of a forensic surgeon from the Pariyaram Medical College. The proceedings were completed in the presence of the Chakkarakkal Police, with the deceased's wife and other relatives in attendance.