Indian police probe mysterious death of 2 Russian nationals

By Ahmad Adil and Elena Teslova

NEW DELHI/MOSCOW (AA) – The Indian police are investigating the mysterious death of two Russian citizens at the same hotel in the eastern state of Odisha within two days last week.

According to officials, a Russian regional member of parliament, Pavel Antov, fell from the roof of his hotel to death on Dec. 24, two days after his companion Vladimir Bidenov died at the same hotel on Dec. 22.

Antov, 65, a Russian businessman and member of the regional legislative body – Vladimir Legislative Assembly in Russia's central Vladimir region – was staying in a hotel in the state's southern district of Rayagada along with three other tourists.

Rasmi Ranjan Pradhan, a local police official, citing a doctor, said that Vladimir Bidenov had died of a heart attack.

After the final rites of Bidenov, Pradhan said: “Antov had gone to the roof of the hotel and fell to death.”

“Investigations are going on to find if he fell accidentally or ended his life,” he told Anadolu Agency, adding that they "haven't found any foul play" so far.

Odisha police on Tuesday evening issued a statement, saying the police chief "has ordered CID (Criminal Investigation Department) to take over the inquiry."

"These cases relate to the unnatural death of two Russian nationals in Rayagada District," it said.

Antov's death was announced in Russia by the deputy head of the Vladimir Legislative Assembly, Vyacheslav Kartukhin, on Telegram.

“As a result of tragic circumstances, our colleague, a successful entrepreneur, and philanthropist Pavel Genrihovich Antov, passed away. On behalf of the deputies of the United Russia faction, I express my deep condolences to the family and friends.”

Antov was one of the richest politicians. In 2018, Forbes estimated his fortune at 10 billion rubles ($146 million).

Russian Consul General in India's Kolkata city, Alexey Idamkin, told the Russian state-run TASS news agency: “A tourist group of four people was vacationing at a hotel in Rayagada. Last Thursday, Russian Vladimir B. died. According to police, the cause of this was a heart attack. Last Saturday, the second Russian, deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Vladimir region, Pavel Antov, fell out of the window,” he said.

"We are closely following the investigation and getting all the information from the Odisha police."

The diplomat said that the consulate general is in constant contact with the relatives of the deceased men, as well as with local authorities and the police.

"The police do not yet see a criminal component in these tragic events," Idamkin said.