Suspense over key witness Borge's death continues

MUMBAI: The death of Bharat Borge, a key witness in Anil Ambani's helicopter sabotage case, remained shrouded in mystery with the police treating the case as an accident while his family has sought a CBI probe.

Maharashtra Home Minister Jayant Patil said prime facie it looks like a case of suicide, and there was no proof of "corporate rivalry" behind Borge's death.

In a related development, police have said they could call the officials for Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group and Airworks company for questioning in connection with the death of Borge, whose body was found on rail tracks yesterday.

Borge was a technician with Airworks, which was maintaining Ambani's helicopter. He was among the first persons to have spotted the fuel cap of Ambani's helicopter open on Thursday last and found pebbles and gravel inside.

Police today said preliminary post-mortem report has showed that Borge died due to multiple fractures and injuries.

Government Railway Police (GRP) officials said they were treating the case as an accidental death and recording statements of railway gateman and other persons concerned.

"The state government must seek a CBI probe into the matter as the entire episode of Bharat's death is not clear. He was in the Army for 20 years and he was strong; he never got depressed. We don't believe it is a suicide," Sambhaji Botre, Borge's cousin, said.