Russian Lawmaker’s Death In Odisha: Mystery Deepens As Body Cremated & Viscera Not Preserved

Bhubaneswar: The mystery over the death of wealthy Russian lawmaker Pavel Antov, a critic of Vladimir Putin, in Odisha’s Rayagada deepened amid reports that he was cremated and his viscera samples were not preserved.

While Crime Branch sleuths intensified the probe into the mysterious deaths of Antov (65) and his friend Vladimir Bidenov (62) in a span of two days, questions are now being asked as to why the lawmaker’s body was consigned to flames and his viscera samples were not preserved.

Forensic experts are of the view that viscera samples are necessary though investigation can also progress on the basis of other findings.

The cremation of Antov’s remains as per Hindu rituals instead of burial has raised eyebrows as he was a Christian. It not clear as to whether the administration had taken the permission of his family to do so. Police claimed it was done following instruction from the Russian embassy.

Rayagada’s Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Lalmohan Routray said viscera samples of Bidenov were preserved for laboratory tests, while that of Antov were not kept. Viscera included samples of liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney that are sent for forensic test when an autopsy fails to show a clear cause of death.

The doctors who conducted the post-mortem may have felt it unnecessary to preserve the viscera samples of Antov as they were probably confirmed about the cause of death, he said.

While Bidenov’s post-mortem showed death due to heart attack, Antov had multiple injury, probably caused by the fall. The cause of death was a rupture of the left lungs, liver, and spleen leading to hemorrhage, shock and death, sources said.

Antov, Bidenov and two other Russians had come to Odisha and had visited Kandhamal district from where they travelled to Rayagada and stayed at Sai International Hotel in the town.

While Videnov was found dead inside his hotel room on December 22, Antov was found in a pool of blood two days later on December 24. While many claimed he fell off his room terrace, others suspected that he was very close to Videnov and might have jumped to death after being unable to bear the loss.

Questions are also being raised about the reason of the visit of the rich lawmaker and his friends to Odisha and their links with the state.

On the other hand, the Crime Branch of Odisha is likely to visit Rayagada as part of its probe into the mysterious deaths.

Meanwhile, interrogation of two other Russians Mikhail Turov and Natalia Panasenka, their tour guide Jitendra Singh and driver by CB sleuths is continuing at the Crime Branch Headquarters in Cuttack.