Kochi: A 55-year-old housemaid who was being treated for grave injuries sustained after falling from the sixth floor of a residential tower in the heart of this Kerala city has died.
The deceased is Rajakumari, alias Kumari, of Chozha Nagar, Pennadam in Tamil Nadu's Gudalur.
Rajakumari's condition deteriorated on Saturday evening and died around midnight. She was on ventilator support at the private hospital where she was treated since the mysterious incident that happened around 8 am on December 5.
Rajakumari was found with serious injuries on the roof of the car porch of Link Horizon Flat on Marine Drive. According to the police, she was trying to get down from the balcony of the flat after tying two saris together when she fell and got injured.
The maid even tested positive for COVID-19 at the hospital.
Employer booked
The police have registered a case against Imtiaz Ahmed, the owner of the flat, in connection with the incident. He has been charged for illegal detention of Kumari.
Rajakumari, who had just returned from her native place, had taken Rs 10,000 in advance from Imtiaz. When she said she had to go to her home again, Imtiaz said he would allow her to leave only after she returned the amount taken as advance.
According to her husband Srinivasan, Rs 10,000 was transferred to Imtiaz’s account but he continued to confine Kumari in the house. Meanwhile, her son-in-law told the media on Sunday that he had no complaint.
Counter-complaint
Imtiaz and his wife said that they had not detained their maid. Imtiaz filed a complaint with the city police commissioner alleging that the accident happened while she was trying to get away with money stolen from his pant’s pocket.