Odisha CB quizzes cops, doctors in mysterious death of Russian lawmaker, friend
Odisha CB quizzes cops, doctors in mysterious death of Russian lawmaker, friend
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Rayagada: On Friday, the second Crime Branch (CB) team investigating the deaths of Russian legislator Pavel Antov and his companion Vladimir Bydanov arrived in Odisha's Rayagada and took statements from local police personnel.
The 12-member CB team, commanded by DSP Saroj Kant Mahanto, first proceeded to Rayagada Town police station and questioned the inspector-in-charge and the local sub-divisional police officer, according to reports.
Later, CB officials examined the two rooms where the Russian visitors were sleeping at Hotel Sai International, as well as the location where Antov fell and died. The squad also questioned hotel employees.
Furthermore, the investigation team is attempting to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the deaths of Bydanov, 62, and Antov, 65.
Notably, Antov died on December 24, two days after Bydanov died of cardiac arrest, after falling from the hotel terrace. The trio, together with a Russian couple and their travel agent from Delhi, Jitendra Singh, first went to Daringbadi in Kandhamal district before moving on to Rayagada town, where they slept at Hotel Sai International on December 21. Bydanov died the next day, allegedly as a result of excessive intoxication.
Antov returned to his hotel room after attending Bydanov's cremation on December 24. He died after falling from the third storey of the hotel in the evening. Though it is unknown how Antov went off the terrace, he was said to be heartbroken by his friend's death. Earlier, another Crime Branch squad had questioned other people in connection with the deaths of the two Russians.
