Alice passes away, ’adopted son’ not paying the bills

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 02, 2016: Alice D’Souza, 90 years,  who was battling for life in the ICU, Intensive Care Unit of Global Hospital at Matadakani Urwa, for more than a month, passed away on Aug 1, Monday. Incidentally, Assistant Commissioner Dr Ashok passed an order on August 1, attaching her property, which is in the name of Arun Bhat.

Alice had requested her ’adopted son’ Arun Bhat to register her newly bought apartment at Matadakani in her name a few years ago. But he had registered the property in his name and Alice came to know about it very recently.

Media reported on Alice’splight,  Arun abandoned Alice, who took care of Arun, his wife and three sons for the last 25 years, and stayed separately, leaving Alice alone at home. When Alice fell sick on June 30, her neighbours admitted her to hospital.  Arun initially agreed to pay the hospital bills, he later made a U-turn forcing Alice to register a complaint with the Senior Citizen Helpline (1090), which in turn filed a complaint before the assistant commissioner.

Assistant Commissioner Dr Ashok visited Alice in the ICU and recorded her statements and warned Arun to pay the bills, and he had agreed.   Later when the hospital manager called Arun, he flatly refused to pay the bills, which has crossed Rs 3 lakh as on date.

"As Assistant Commissioner had ordered the hospital to give her best treatment, we did not compromise on the quality her treatment," hospital Managing Director Dr Susheel Jathanna said.

As Arun has refused to pay the bills, the assistant commissioner made a statement that the apartment would be attached through an order.  Arun is running a paying guest facility while his wife is working as a teacher.