A 100-odd people, mostly clad in white salwar suits, saris and kurta pyjama, entered late politician N.D. Tiwari’s Tilak Lane residence to attend his son Rohit Shekhar Tiwari’s condolence meet on Saturday early afternoon.

To their surprise, not a single word was spoken about Rohit — the man who has remained in headlines since his death on April 16 — by his mother Ujjwala Sharma or other family members.

As the event came to an end after an hour of bhajans, those sitting in the lawn where the meet was organised were asked to proceed for lunch.

“I was indeed expecting Ujjwala ji to say something but it is her call after all,” said an attendee who did not wish to be named.

Barring a few former MLAs, Mayor and industrialists, the meet was mostly attended by friends and relatives of the family, some of who made sure they posed for photographs throwing flowers at his picture while Ms. Ujjwala stood next to them.

As expected by deceased’s family members, no relatives of his wife Apoorva Shukla, accused of killing Rohit and currently lodged in jail, were present at the condolence meet but her name could be heard in murmurs.

Rohit’s cousin Sukrit and his wife Priyanka, very close to the deceased and Ms. Ujjwala, said that Rohit’s image is being tarnished by Apoorva because “she claimed that something was going on between Rohit and his cousin sister-in-law”.

“How can a man who, according to society, was a result of an illegitimate relationship and fought his entire life because of it be in one such relationship? That’s utter nonsense. Bhabhi [sister-in-law] raised him as her own child,” Mr. Sukrit said as the sister-in-law walked around the house making arrangements.

Demand justice

The couple said they want justice for their brother who “only remained in news for controversial reasons”.

Rohit was declared dead at a city hospital on April 16 and after his post-mortem report which stated he had been smothered and strangulated, a murder case was registered.

The Crime Branch Department who were tasked with investigating the case, arrested Apoorva on Wednesday.