Ajay Mafatlal passes away

Businessman Ajay Mafatlal, who was Aparna till a sex change operation, of the Yogindra Mafatlal Group, passed away after a month-long illness at a hospital here. He was 60.

Ajay died at the Breach Candy Hospital on Saturday afternoon due to cardio-respiratory failure, according to hospital and family sources.

He was first admitted to the Cumballa Hill Hospital on July 30 with urinary tract and lung infections, but soon he developed sepsis, following which he was shifted to the Breach Candy hospital. He was one of the most famous and earliest sex change cases in the country. In November 2003, he underwent a surgery at the age of 46.

Aparna was in November 1979 married to family friend Sudeep Parikh who was into the business of producing yarns. After living together for one-and-half years, they mutually agreed to get separated, and in 1984, got formally divorced. Ajay’s funeral was held at the Banganga cremation grounds on Saturday in the presence of family members and close friends.