PF scam: Key accused found dead in jail

Ashutosh Astana, prime accused in the multi-crore provident fund scam in which a number of judges of the higher and lower judiciary were allegedly involved, was found dead in a cell of Dasna district jail in Ghaziabad yesterday.

An arrested prime accused in the multi-crore provident fund scam, in which a number of judges of the higher and lower judiciary were allegedly involved, was found dead in a cell of Dasna district jail in Ghaziabad on Saturday.

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43-year-old Ashutosh Astana, who has been in jail since his arrest in January last year, was found unconscious in this cell at around 2 pm, Jail Superintendent VK Singh told PTI.

"He was sweating a lot and was rushed to the district MMG government hospital but doctors there declared him brought dead," Singh said, adding the exact reason of his death is yet to be ascertained.

Hospital Superintendent A K Singh said it appears that Astana had consumed some poisonous substance but post-mortem would bring out the exact cause of his death. His body has been sent for post mortem.