A 77-year-old German national of Indian origin, Ashok Kumar, who was arrested in connection with a drug smuggling case, died while undergoing treatment at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in West Delhi. Kumar had been detained by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on July 26 after allegedly being found with six kilograms of cocaine concealed in capsules hidden inside soft toys at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
Ashok Kumar, a German national implicated in a CBI case, was arrested on July 25, 2024, at Delhi Airport. He arrived from Doha on Indigo Airlines flight 6E 1308, with 270 cocaine capsules concealed in toy dolls. His arrest was based on Interpol's input.
Medical issues and death
Kumar was transferred to Tihar Jail's medical facility on August 14 due to multiple health issues. He died on August 27 at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. The exact cause of death will be determined by a post-mortem examination.
Ongoing investigation
The Delhi Police have contacted the German embassy to obtain details about Kumar's family for further legal procedures. Kumar's advocate, Rohit Pratap Singh, mentioned that Kumar's family, including his brother in the US, has expressed concerns about potential foul play. The family has been hesitant to come to India, and the postmortem examination cannot proceed until consent is given by them or the embassy. The exact cause of Kumar's death will be confirmed following the examination.
"His brother, who is based in the US, spoke with me through e-mail. He suspected some foul play in his death. His post mortem examination is yet to be done as the local police awaits his family's or the German embassy's consent for further legal proceedings," Singh said.
Custody and health issues
Following his arrest, Kumar was placed in Tihar Jail after five days of police custody. On August 14, he reported feeling unwell and was admitted to DDU Hospital, where he passed away on August 27. The cause of his death is yet to be determined, pending a postmortem examination.
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