Police start probe as foul play alleged in film star Satish Kaushik’s death

In a new twist to the death of Bollywood actor and director Satish Kaushik, Delhi police are looking into the allegations of the wife of the owner of the farmhouse where he spent his last night, that her husband had got the film star killed.

Saanvi Malu, the wife of Kuber Group director Vikas Malu has written a letter to the Delhi Police Commissioner accusing her husband of being involved in a plot to murder Satish Kaushik over a Rs 15 crore loan he had taken from the actor.

Police said the woman’s complaint about the foul play s being investigated.

Kaushik, who died on March 9 at the age of 66, was at Malu’s farmhouse in Delhi when he complained of uneasiness and was rushed to the hospital. He died on the way.

In her letter, Saanvi alleged that the actor had loaned her husband Rs 15 crore and met him abroad once to get his money back. Saanvi said that since the actor fell ill at her husband’s farmhouse, she suspected that Vikas could have poisoned him in order to avoid paying back the loan.

She also claimed that her husband kept a huge collection of different types of drugs in the farmhouse.

The police had ruled out foul play in Satish Kaushik’s death and his post-mortem report suggested the actor died of a heart attack. Kaushik’s family, too, has made no allegations so far.

Over a dozen guests were invited to the party. The Delhi Police has made a list of the guests including the owner of the farmhouse. The Police will soon start questioning them.

Kaushik died on Wednesday after he complained of chest pain in the night. He was rushed to Fortis Hospital in Gurugram where he was declared brought dead.

Delhi Police had taken his body for a post-mortem examination at DDU Hospital in the national capital. A panel of doctors conducted the post-mortem examination and also preserved his viscera to ascertain the actual cause of death and find out whether any substance was present in his body.

The Delhi Police had said they were also waiting for the detailed postmortem report to know the exact cause of Satish Kaushik’s death.

The police have also not ruled out the possibility of a drug overdose during the party that might have caused his death. Further investigations are on.

His manager Santosh Rai had said that Kaushik did not drink and went to sleep at 9.30 pm on Wednesday.

“He was all well and was not having any problem before going to sleep… At around 11 pm he experienced pain in the chest and was having problems in breathing. We rushed him to Fortis Hospital where he was declared dead,” Rai added.