Hello Mumbai City Desk

Mumbai: In a major breakthrough, the Mumbai Police have solved a three-month-old missing person case after recovering the decomposed body of an elderly woman from a drainage line in Andheri East. Two accused, including the victim’s brother and sister-in-law, have been arrested in connection with the murder.
Body Found in Drainage Near Airport
The case came to light on April 24, 2026, when workers from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) were cleaning a drainage line near the compound of Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) in Marol Pipeline, Andheri (East).

While opening a sealed manhole, workers discovered a highly decomposed body lodged approximately 5 to 6 feet deep inside the sewer. The police were immediately alerted, and an Accidental Death Report (ADR No. 22/2026) was registered at Andheri Police Station.
Identification Through Missing Report
Due to the advanced stage of decomposition, identifying the victim proved challenging. Police formed nine dedicated teams to scan missing person records across multiple stations.
A breakthrough came when jewellery and personal belongings found on the body matched details from a missing person complaint filed at Sahar Police Station on January 10, 2026. The deceased was identified as Alice James Siqueira (80), a resident of Alok Chawl in Marol Pipeline.
Family Dispute Leads to Murder
During local inquiries, police uncovered frequent disputes between the victim and her brother, Joseph Thomas Coelho. Investigations revealed that a heated argument had taken place on January 9, 2026, involving the victim, her brother, and his wife, Maria Joseph Coelho.
Under sustained interrogation, Joseph Coelho confessed to the crime. He admitted that he strangled his sister on the night of January 10 following a personal dispute. To destroy evidence, he, along with his wife, disposed of the body in a nearby drainage manhole.
In an attempt to mislead authorities, the couple later filed a false missing person report at Sahar Police Station.
Arrests and Charges
The Andheri Police arrested both accused:
Joseph Thomas Coelho (65)
Maria Joseph Coelho (63)
A case has been registered under Sections 103(1) (Murder) and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police Leadership and Investigation
The operation was conducted under the guidance of senior officials, including Deven Bharti and Satyanarayan Chaudhary. The investigation was led by Senior Police Inspector Umesh Machindar and his team from Andheri Police Station.