A 19-year-old Delhi University student, the son of a former Manipur Minister, allegedly fell to his death from the terrace of a restaurant in Hauz Khas village on Saturday.
Though CCTV footage of victim M. Siddharth Singh climbing up the stairs of the restaurant alone has emerged, the police haven’t termed the incident as accidental. Investigators, in fact, haven’t ruled out the possibility of him being pushed off the terrace.
A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was registered after Siddharth’s family expressed suspicion of foul play.
‘Probing all angles’
“We are probing all angles and have registered a case of culpable homicide. We are yet to ascertain how the youth reached the terrace of the restaurant,” said Ishwar Singh, DCP (South).
It was around 3.30 p.m. that the youth fell from the terrace on the fourth floor. Ayush, a visitor to Hauz Khas who was parking his car, tried to revive Siddharth. He was taken to Safdarjung Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
A police team that reached the spot found the boy’s mobile phone and wallet near the stairs.
A call was received on this phone from his driver Ram Singh, who had dropped him at the restaurant. The driver was informed about the incident.
‘No enmity’
His family, too, reached the hospital where his sister, Ujjwala, expressed the possibility of foul play. However, she added that Siddharth did not have enmity with anyone.
According to the police, Siddharth had gone to the restaurant alone and finished the food he had ordered before proceeding to the terrace.
The restaurant management said that they were informed about the incident by the security guards.
“We are probing how he reached the terrace. The door usually remains locked,” said Surendra Kumar, manager at the restaurant.
Family and friends who came to AIIMS, where the body was taken for post-mortem, said that Siddharth had called his father M. Okendra after leaving college — Delhi College of Arts and Commerce — and informed him of his plans to go to Hauz Khas. They added that Siddharth didn’t drink or smoke.
Injuries on arm, face
According to the FIR, Siddharth was unconscious, had injuries on his left arm and face and was under the influence of alcohol.
The police will now check with the restaurant if Siddharth was served liquor, which will amount to violating the law as he was below the legal drinking age.
