VASCO/PANAJI: The British fugitive, Ajay Kaushal, wanted in Britain in a case of assault and abduction of a businessman, and placed in judicial custody in Sub-Jail at Headland-Sada in Vasco, died a mysterious death in the wee hours of Tuesday.

He is suspected to have had an overdose of some medicine while in the judicial custody. However, authorities at the Sub-Jail said it was quite early to talk and predict the death of Kaushal. Mormugao police have registered a case of unnatural death.
Late Monday night, the jail authorities found Kaushal in an unconscious state in his cell. They immediately admitted him to the Cottage Hospital at Chicalim at around 3.30 a.m. on Tuesday. After examining him, the doctor on duty advised that Kaushal be shifted to the GMC. The Superintendent of police, Special Branch, Mr Atmaram Deshpande informed that Kaushal breathed his last in the casualty at the GMC.
Mr Deshpande further informed that the post mortem examination would be conducted once the British consulate officials arrive in Goa and added that the autopsy report would shed more light on the cause of death and help in investigation. “It could be a case of overdose, as Kaushal was on medication,” Mr Deshpande said. A source from the jail revealed that there is no medical officer in the jail and an ex-NDPS detenue distributes medicines to the inmates.
The Deputy Collector and Sub-divisional Magistrate, Tiswadi, Mr Sabaji Shetye who has been appointed as the special judicial magistrate to conduct inquest panchanama into the death of Kaushal, when contacted, said that he had spoken to the lawyer of Kaushal, Mr Rajiv Gomes to intimate his relatives in Britain and the inquest panchanama would be conducted at the GMC in presence of his relatives.
Meanwhile, the IGP prison, Mr Mihir Vardhan, said nothing can be said unless and until the post mortem examination report is received. Colva police inspector, Mr Tushar Vernekar, informed that the extradition process of Mr Kaushal was in progress and that the British council had appointed a metropolitan magistrate to do the needful and Kaushal was about to be sent back to England.
The Sada Sub-Jail was in the news earlier for some wrong reasons including the escape of inmates. Kaushal was brought to the Sub-Jail on October 28, 2009, after Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Margao rejected his bail application under Section 34B of the Extradition Act, 1962 and under Section 41(g) of criminal procedure code (CrPC). The Mormugao police had registered two separate offences against Kaushal under sections 353, 504, 427 of Indian Penal Code. Kaushal was also booked for attacking jailor at the Sub-Jail.