Mumbai was left in shock as Bollywood actress Malaika Aroras stepfather, Anil Mehta, tragically passed away after reportedly jumping from the 6th floor of his Bandra West residence. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m., leaving the family and the industry heartbroken. According to Mumbai Police, a post-mortem was conducted at Cooper Hospital, revealing that the 62-year-old suffered multiple injuries, leading to his death.Final call to family before tragedyReports suggest that moments before the incident, Anil Mehta called his stepdaughters, Malaika and Amrita Arora, and expressed his distress, reportedly saying, “I am sick and tired.” This devastating call came shortly before he took the fatal leap from the balcony.Malaikas mother, Joyce Polycarp, was present in the apartment when the tragedy occurred. In a statement to the police, Joyce mentioned that it was routine for Anil to sit on the balcony every morning and read the newspaper. However, on that fateful day, when she checked on him, he was missing. It was then that she heard the bodyguard calling for help. Joyce added that while Anil had no significant health issues apart from minor knee pain, she never anticipated such an outcome.Malaika Aroras heartfelt statementFollowing the tragic news, Malaika Arora released a statement on Instagram, asking the media and the public to respect the familys privacy. “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear father, Anil Mehta. He was a gentle soul, a devoted grandfather, a loving husband, and our best friend. Our family is in deep shock by this loss, and we kindly request privacy during this difficult time,” she wrote.A quiet life away from spotlightAnil Mehta, who worked in the Indian Merchant Navy, hailed from Fazilka, Punjab, and was married to Joyce Polycarp, a Malayali Christian. The couple largely stayed away from the media limelight.
