Indians residing in Australia have started a fundraising campaign to repatriate the body of Maulin Rathod to his home in Ahmedabad, India.
He was allegedly killed on Tuesday after meeting up with a woman in Melbourne he had known via a dating app. Maulin's heartbroken parents who were once eagerly waiting to see their son are now waiting for his dead body.
A fundraising campaign has been started by the Indian community on various Facebook pages requesting people to donate money so that Maulin's dead body can be sent to his family in India.
Maulin's photograph with his parents at the Ahmedabad airport before flying to Australia. Source: SBS Gujarati
Hindu rites suggest cremation should normally take place within 24 hours.
Maulin's cousin sister, Priyanka, told SBS Gujarati, "Our primary focus is to receive Maulin's dead body at the earliest. I have tweeted Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for the help, and she has assured us to provide all possible help from the Indian government in this matter."
Priyanka, in a subsequent tweet, asked Minister Sushma Swaraj to wave the charges to bring Maulin's body back.
In reply, Sushma Swaraj assured her not to worry about the expense.
"We are constantly in contact with some of the members of the Indian community in Australia, and they are providing us with every detail into this regards, " said Priyanka.
Maulin was a student in Melbourne and travelled to India in January to celebrate a kite flying festival; he was also planning to return again in November after he finished his studies in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, a statement by the Consulate General of India in Melbourne said that they are in touch with Maulin's family in India and Australia.
As Australian authorities are completing extra-legal formalities regarding the tragic death, the statement read, it may take a "slightly longer time to repatriate Maulin's mortal remains".
Victoria Police said 24-year-old Maulin Rathod went to a house at Ross Court in Sunbury, in Melbourne’s north-west, on Monday evening after arranging to meet up with a 19-year-old woman he’d met online.
Press Release from Indian Consulate Melbourne Source: Indian Consulate Melbourne
About 9pm, emergency services were called to the home and found Mr Rathod with “life-threatening injuries”. He was taken to hospital, where he died.
Police arrested the woman the next day, later charging her with intentionally causing serious injury.
“It’s believed the pair had arranged to meet at the property and were known to each other,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
Rathod, the only child of his parents, has been remembered by friends and family as one of the "kindest souls who had more friends than money".
“He was such a kind soul. He had so many friends. He was empathetic and would rush to help even if he had known the person only for a day,” his cousin said.
Maulin arrived in Australia on a student visa and was pursuing a course in accountancy in Melbourne. He lived in Elsternwick and worked as a delivery driver to support himself.
“He loved dogs and was a passionate cricketer. He was full of life,"
