Hyderabad: Here's How An Old Nokia Phone & Demonetised Notes Helped Identify A 10-Year-Old Skeleton

Hyderabad: The skeletal remains discovered in an abandoned house in Nampally earlier this week have been identified as those of Ameer Khan, a man believed to have died nearly a decade ago. According to the police, an old Nokia phone recovered from the scene played a crucial role in solving the mystery that surfaced after a local resident entered the locked house to retrieve a cricket ball.

Ameer's body was found lying face-down in the kitchen, surrounded by utensils. What first appeared to be an eerie accident turned into a case of long-overlooked isolation. Police believe the man died of natural causes and remained unnoticed for years.

Phone Data and Old Currency Hint At Time of Death

According to reports, the key breakthrough came when they the investigators found the old Nokia handset near the skeleton. Though the phone was dead, technicians managed to restore it and access its call logs. "The phone showed 84 missed calls from the year 2015. That gave us the first clear timeline,” Assistant Commissioner of Police Kishan Kumar said, as quoted by NDTV.

Under a pillow near the remains, police also found demonetised currency notes, suggesting the death occurred before the 2016 currency recall. The presence of now-defunct notes served as further evidence that Ameer had likely died several years ago.

No Signs of Foul Play, Family Lived Nearby

Ameer Khan, around 50 years old at the time of death, was unmarried and reportedly mentally disturbed. He lived alone in the house owned by his father, Muneer Khan, who had ten children. While other family members had moved out, Ameer stayed behind.

Police say there were no signs of struggle or injury. “Even the bones began crumbling. It appears that none of his siblings or associates tried to check on him,' said ACP Kumar.

Ameer’s younger brother, Shadab, confirmed the identity by recognising a ring and a pair of shorts on the body. A CLUES forensic team has collected evidence for further analysis, and the remains have been sent to the mortuary for examination.

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