A deeply disturbing incident has come to light from Madhya Pradesh’s Burhanpur district, where a man was caught on CCTV molesting the body of a deceased woman kept for post-mortem at Khaknar Community Health Centre. Although the incident occurred on April 18, 2024, it only came to light recently after a year-old CCTV clip went viral on social media on October 7, 2025.

The graphic footage triggered immediate public outrage and forced law enforcement to launch a swift investigation. In the video, a man can be seen dragging the woman’s body from a stretcher inside a hospital ward and taking it into a secluded area, only to return and dump the body near the stretcher after some time.

Complaint and Police Action

Following the surfacing of the video, Dr. Adya Dawar, a medical officer at the Khaknar health facility, submitted a formal complaint at the Khaknar Police Station on October 7. The police registered a case under Section 297 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with the insult of human corpses.

Additional Superintendent of Police Antar Singh Kanesh confirmed that the accused, identified as Nilesh Bhilala, a 25-year-old resident of Tangiyapat village in the Bhouraghat region, was arrested soon after. Station House Officer Abhishek Jadhav led the investigation team that used CCTV footage and statements from patients and staff present at the time to identify Bhilala.

Chilling Details of the Incident

According to preliminary police findings, the crime took place at around 6:45 AM on April 18, 2024. The victim, a woman from Bijori village, had passed away and her body was kept at the health centre for post-mortem. It was during this time, when no staff was present nearby, that the accused entered the ward and committed the heinous act.

During questioning, the accused confessed to the act. He has since been produced before a local court in Burhanpur, and further investigations are underway to determine how he accessed the post-mortem area and whether there was any lapse in hospital security.

Necrophilia – A Disturbing Disorder, Weak Laws

Experts say the incident falls under necrophilia, a rare and highly disturbing psychological disorder characterized by sexual attraction towards corpses. Unfortunately, India’s current legal framework lacks stringent laws to punish such acts.

Sections 375 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code only apply to crimes against living victims. Therefore, in cases like this, the accused is usually charged under IPC Section 297 (trespassing on burial places and disrespect to dead bodies) or under the newly introduced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 301, which relates to crimes against corpses.

Public Outrage and Demands for Justice

The footage has sparked massive outrage among local residents and the wider public, with many calling for stricter laws and enhanced security at health centres, particularly in sensitive areas like mortuaries and post-mortem rooms.

The hospital administration and the health department have come under scrutiny, with authorities now being questioned about how such a lapse in security was even possible. Locals have demanded that the accused be given the harshest punishment possible to set an example and ensure the dignity of the deceased is never compromised.

The investigation continues, and the district police have assured strict action against anyone found guilty of negligence in this chilling case.

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