Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, flew in from the capital to Mahabaleshwar, on 15^th December, 2024, to attend the last rites of 35-year-old sports enthusiast and online trader, Raiyan Banaji, whose sudden and untimely death shocked the community, after he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest, in Lisbon, Portugal, post a ruby tournament. His body was flown down to the family’s native town of Mahabaleshwar.

Raiyan Banaji was the son of renowned ophthalmologist – Dr. Burjor P. Banaji. Rahul Gandhil visited their home and offered condolences to his parents and his wife – Roshni Dadachanji and other family members. He participated in the funeral procession and cremation rites. The Gandhi family and Rahul Gandhi have close familial bonds, with the Banajis from the lineage of his grandfather, the late Feroze Gandhi – husband of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The Parsi Zoroastrians Worldwide (PZW) paid glowing tributes to Raiyan Banaji in a condolence message describing him as, “Our sweet handsome Cathedral (school, in Mumbai) alumnus”, while the Rugby Association of Maharashtra (RAM), of which Raiyan was a member, shared: “A tribute to a true gentleman, Raiyan Banaji. Your legacy will live on to inspire. That contagious smile and infectious laugh – always in our minds, forever in our hearts”.

Rahul Gandhi has been known to go to for his eye check-ups to Dr. Banaji’s clinic, which also caters to other political and corporate bigwigs and celebrities.