Fact Check: Did Indigo CEO Die Due To Cardiac Arrest Post COVID-19

A message with a link stating the death of Ankur Bhatia has gone viral on WhatsApp. The message claims that 48-year-old Bhatia was the owner of Indigo, IBIS hotel and Roseate Hotels.

The message claimed that Ankur succumbed after he suffered a cardiac arrest during cycling while he was recuperating from COVID-19. It is, however, unclear whether he was infected with COVID-19 or not.

As for his official credentials, Ankur was the Executive Director of Bird Group, an aviation company. Roseate Hotels & Resorts is his family business in which his father, Vijay Bhatia, is the President, mother Radha Bhatia is Chairperson and brother Gaurav Bhatia is a fellow Executive Director.

Ankur is credited with bringing travel technology provider Amadeus, which is believed to be a market leader in the segment, to India.

Bird Group had also started a new division – Bird Electric which has been distributing Segway Personal Transporters for the past 10 years. The group also operates six uber-luxury properties in India and the UK.

Ankur is also credited for introducing the country’s first indoor ice-skating rink and cafe – iSKATE, located in Ambience Mall, Gurugram.