A 77-year-old German national of Indian heritage, arrested in connection with the alleged possession of illegal substances at IGI Airport, passed away while undergoing treatment at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in West Delhi, according to police sources who spoke with PTI on Wednesday.
Ashok Kumar was apprehended by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on July 26, following a tip from Interpol. The CBI alleged that Kumar had concealed six kilograms of cocaine within 270 capsules hidden inside two stuffed toys.
After spending five days in police custody, Kumar was transferred to Tihar Jail. On August 14, he reported feeling unwell and was taken to DDU Hospital, where he died on August 27 during his treatment, the source indicated.
The Delhi Police have contacted the German embassy to gather information about Kumar’s family in order to proceed with the autopsy and other legal actions. Kumar's lawyer, Rohit Pratap Singh, informed PTI that he attempted to reach Kumar’s relatives, but they were hesitant to travel to India.
“His brother, who resides in the US, communicated with me via email and has expressed concerns about potential foul play in his death. The post-mortem examination has yet to be conducted as the local police are awaiting approval from the family or the German embassy to proceed with further legal measures,” Singh stated.