Exminister’s son falls to death in Hauz Khas Village
TRAGIC END The 18yearold boy fell from a restaurant’s terrace, doctors say he was under the ‘influence of alcohol’; sister alleges foul play; Delhi Police probing if it was an accident
18-year-old son of a former Manipur state minister died on Saturday afternoon in mysterious circumstances after falling from the terrace of a restaurant in south Delhi’s Hauz Khas village. Though the family alleged foul play, police said they are probing if the death was accidental or caused by someone.
Sidharth, son of Manipur’s former home and education minister M Okendru, lived in the Safdarjung Development Area. He had come to Delhi a few months ago for his studies. At around 3.45pm, he was found on the ground at the back of a building, housing two restaurants in Hauz Khas village (HKV). Sidharth was rushed to Safdarjung hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
According to the FIR, doctors told police the teenager was under the ‘influence of alcohol’. Though there were unverified reports of the teenager taking the Blue Whale Challenge, an online game which has resulted in many deaths across the world, police said they have no evidence to confirm or deny this.
Additional deputy commissioner of police (south) Chinmoy Biswal said that the incident came to light on Saturday at 4.10pm when they received a distress call about a boy who fell down from a restaurant in HKV area. Police reached the spot and learnt that the injured was shifted to a hospital. During site inspection, broken flower pots were found at the spot. Items such as purse, phone and eye glass were on the terrace but no eye witnesses were found at the spot.
In her statement to police, Sidharth’s sister, Ujjwala, said that his death was suspicious. She alleged that there was foul play in the whole incident because Sidharth had no enmity with anyone.
Police officials said the case is being investigated for all possibilities.
“We are probing all angles. We are probing if it was an accidental fall or he was pushed off the terrace. We are looking at CCTV images from nearby buildings,” a senior police officer said.
Sidharth had come to the restaurant alone.
The second floor terrace from where the teenager fell down had an iron railing, possibly three feet high. There is another floor, housing another restaurant above the second floor balcony, from where he fell to his death. Police suspect, the teenager may have been leaning on the railing. The backside of the building opens to a large parking area belonging to Delhi Development Authority. The parking attendants working there were one of the few people who reached the spot immediately after Sidharth fell to his death.
“I heard loud screams. I ran towards the the noise and saw a young man lying on the ground. He was bleeding from his face and left arm. I was told that he had fallen from one of the floors. But how is that possible? There are railings on every floor,” said a parking attendant, requesting anonymity.
So far, police have not found any eyewitnesses.
ALTHOUGH THERE WERE UNVERIFIED REPORTS OF THE TEENAGER TAKING THE BLUE WHALE CHALLENGE, THE POLICE SAID THEY DIDN’T HAVE EVIDENCE TO CONFIRM OR DENY THIS CLAIM