A police investigation is underway in Melbourne after a young Indian student died in what Victorian police believe may have been an online date gone wrong.
Emergency services were called to a residential address in Sunbury, in Melbourne’s north-west about 9pm on Monday night.
Twenty-four-year-old Maulin Rathod from Ahmedabad was taken to Sunshine Hospital after emergency services found him with “life-threatening injuries”.
“But the doctors couldn’t save him. He passed away next day,” Neeraj Chavada, Rathod’s cousin in Melbourne told SBS Hindi.
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.
Source: Facebook
“He loved dogs and was a passionate cricketer. He was full of life.
“He was his parents’ only child. His mother is devastated. She hasn’t eaten anything and is desperate to see her child,” Mr Chavada told SBS Hindi.
Mr Chavada is now working to repatriate Maulin’s body to Ahmedabad.
“I am immensely thankful to our Gujarati Samaj and members of our Indian community who have come forward to help us in such tragic circumstances.
“I am in touch with our Consul General to send his mortal remains to Ahmedabad as soon as possible,” Mr Chavada said.
“It’s believed the pair had arranged to meet at the property and were known to each other,” Victoria Police said in a statement. Source: Facebook
19-year-old arrested and charged
Police have arrested the 19-year-old woman at the scene and have charged her with intentionally causing serious injury.
“It’s believed the pair had arranged to meet at the property and were known to each other,” Victorian Police said.
She faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court and was remanded in custody to appear again on Monday, 30 July.
“Her charges will now be reviewed following the death of the man and are expected to be upgraded,” police said in a statement.
