An Indian expatriate who died in Makkah last year and who has not been buried in 10 months due to legal issues will finally be laid to rest in Makkah on Friday.

Mohammed Arifuddin, from Andhra Pradesh in India, was working in Riyadh and was visiting Makkah to perform the Umrah pilgrimage last March. Arifuddin was staying at a hotel on Gaza Street in the holy city. He died while taking a shower because of a short-circuit in the water heater, a police report had then said.

Naseem Sultana, Arifuddin’s wife, had demanded a probe into the death and demanded compensation for negligence on the part of the hotel that resulted in the death of her husband. Her request was forwarded to local authorities through diplomatic channels, which resulted in complications and caused a delay in his burial.

After waiting for two months, Sultana withdrew her demand for investigation and compensation and pleaded that the last rites be performed for her husband.

Family and friends have been trying to get the body released over the last several months.

“I have been visiting the Makkah Police Department every week for this case, besides calling on the Saudi Foreign Ministry and governorate in Makkah to find a solution,” said Mohammed Ayub Khan, who was following the case.

“I have been frequently absent from my office trying to pursue this case for the past 10 months,” he said.

“After several months, authorities agreed to release the body and we are making arrangements for his burial in Makkah on Friday,” said Ayub Khan and Khaja Yunus Ali Rehan.