Whodunnit' Mystery death of Mahajan's aide; son critical

New Delhi, June 2 (UNI) Exactly a month after the shocking murder of Pramod Mahajan, his son Rahul was admitted to hospital today in serious condition while trusted aide Bibek Biman Moitra died after a champagne party attended by three mysterious men.

The three men, described as acquaintances of Mr Moitra, walked away from the 7 Safdarjang Road bunglow in the high-security VIP zone in the wee hours, leaving Moitra, 38, dead and Rahul, 26, gasping for life.

They also left behind allegations of drug abuse at the bunglow, allotted to the former union minister, besides a sea of unanswered questions.

''At this stage all options are open (in the probe),'' Additional District Commissioner of Police Manish Agarwal said when asked at a press briefing whether he suspected foul play.

Domestic servants, who rushed them to the Apollo hospital in separate cars at 0255 hrs, told police that they had never seen the three men before.

While Rahul was unconscious and had low blood pressure, low respiratory rate and low oxygen levels in the blood, Moitra, was brought dead, hospital medical superintendent Ritu Rawat told reporters.

Rahul was put on ventilator support. His condition was described as ''critical but haemodynamically stable''. A team of five doctors was monitoring Rahul's condition on a continuous basis.

''All investigations as per protocol, including toxic screen, are under process,'' Dr Umesh Gupta, a spokesman for the hospital told reporters this evening.

''The cause of his condition is still unclear and is being investigated,'' he said, adding that the results of tests in this regard were awaited.

A pouch carrying a white powdery substance as well as the champagne bottles recovered from the house were examined by forensic teams, but their report was awaited.

An inquest was conducted on Moitra's death. The viscera was being preserved and would be examined by experts from the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory.

Police was also scanning the telephone numbers found on mobile phones from the place. Servants who rushed them to hospital were questioned about the men who left after staying in the house for close to 45 minutes, Mr Agarwal said.

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