A family from Thane today claimed the body of an old man who died here two days ago after being taken to hospital in a garbage collection van, but the police have decided to go for a DNA test to verify the identity.
Sopan Mandalik, (50), who watched the news on TV arrived here yesterday and after seeing the body kept at Pravara Hospital at Loni claimed it was his 80-year-old father Gyaneshwar Ramchandra Mandalik.
"My father had left our home in Thane on the morning of December 6, 2013, and didn't return. We lodged complaint with the police and searched for him at many places but in vain," Mandalik told PTI.
He said he and his relatives recognised the body and want to take it home for performing last rites.
However, the police remain sceptical about the claims as some marks on the body didn't match the family's description.
Police inspector Pramod Wagh said DNA samples would be sent to a forensic lab in Mumbai to verify the claim.
Some Marathi news channels had yesterday aired visuals of the old man, who was found on Pimpalwadi road near the famous Saibaba temple here, being bundled into the van by municipal workers, sparking an outrage.
Opposition NCP even demanded resignation of state health minister Deepak Sawant.
Shirdi sub-divisional officer Kundan Sonawane subsequently suspended six contractual workers.
