Lucknow: IAS officer found dead on road, foul play suspected

Lucknow: A Karnataka-cadre IAS officer was found dead this morning under mysterious circumstances on a roadside in the high-security Hazratganj area here, hardly a kilometre away from the UP Assembly which is in session now.

In a quirk of fate, the body of Anurag Tiwari, 36, posted as commissioner in the department of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs in Bengaluru, was found on his birthday, near a government guesthouse on Meera Bai Marg where he was staying.

Police said prima facie it appeared to be "death due to traumatic injury".

"The exact cause will be known after post-mortem examination," Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar said.

Tiwari, a 2007 batch IAS officer, was staying at the Meera Bai Guest House in the area for the last two days with a batchmate after attending a mid-career training programme at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie. Tiwari was in his sleepwear when he was found dead.

Police said there was an injury on his chin. It is not ruling out that he may have been hit by a vehicle during his morning walk.

An engineer by qualification, Tiwari belonged to Bahraich district. He was born on May 17, 1981, and became an IAS officer in July 2007. The incident sent shock waves in the Uttar Pradesh capital.

Inspector of Hazratganj Police Station A K Shahi said some passers-by informed the police after spotting him lying on the road.

His identity was established on the basis of his ID card found in his wallet which contained some cash too, he said.

The inspector said a preliminary examination confirmed an injury on his chin and no other injury was visible.

Inspector General of Police, Lucknow range, J N Singh said Tiwari might have suffered a heart attack.

He said a team of forensic experts from Lucknow's State Forensic Science Laboratory will examine the officer's body and the exact cause of death could be ascertained only after autopsy.