Mumbai: Police Recover Unidentified Woman's Body From Water-Filled Basement Of Dreams Mall In Bhandup; Boyfriend Detained For Questioning

A 40-year-old woman’s body was discovered floating in stagnant water in the basement of Dreams Mall, Bhandup, early Tuesday morning, causing a stir in the area. The deceased has been identified as Manisha Gaikwad-Bhise. The Bhandup police have registered a case of accidental death and detained her boyfriend for questioning.

Dreams Mall, located on Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Road in Bhandup West, has been largely non-operational for the past few years. Rainwater had accumulated in the mall’s basement and had not been drained. On Tuesday morning, local residents noticed a body floating in the water and alerted the police. Upon arrival, the Bhandup police retrieved the body and sent it to Mulund General Hospital.

According to police sources, initial examinations did not reveal any major external injuries, leading the police to register a case of accidental death. The body was later sent to Rajawadi Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Based on a photograph of the deceased, police investigations identified her as Manisha Gaikwad-Bhise, a resident of Ishwarnagar on LBS Road. Further inquiries revealed that she had left home on Monday night to meet her boyfriend.

The police have begun analyzing CCTV footage from the area and have detained her boyfriend for questioning. According to initial findings, Gaikwad-Bhise was last seen purchasing alcohol at a wine shop. She later moved toward the back of Dreams Mall, near the basement. Authorities suspect that after consuming alcohol, she accidentally fell into the water-filled basement, leading to her drowning.

The exact cause of death will be determined following the post-mortem report. Police have stated that a thorough investigation from all possible angles is underway.