Mumbai police have recovered the body of a 78-year-old man from a freezer at a daycare centre in Kurar Village, Malad, more than four years after his death.

The man died of cancer on 9 June 2022, according to police. His body was found after residents complained of a foul smell on 29 September.

Police sources said the man's daughter, who lives in the US, believed in rebirth and hoped her father could be revived. The family was reportedly paying about Rs 1.6 lakh a month to keep the body preserved. at the centre.

Officials are examining the family's documents, including the death certificate. No foul play is suspected so far, police said, but the probe continues. The BMC had sealed the centre three months ago, reports said.

Neighbours said the family kept to itself and rarely spoke about the arrangement. The case has sparked debate on grief, belief and the law.