Family Alleges Foul Play in IAS Officer Anurag Tiwari’s Death

Was Anurag Tiwari privy to a scam in his department which led to his death?

IAS officer Anurag Tiwari’s body was found under mysterious circumstances in Lucknow, leading his family to allege foul play. (Photo: Lijumol Joseph/The Quint)

Anurag Tiwari’s family members have alleged foul play in the death of the 2007-batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer. His body was found on a road near a guesthouse at 6 am on 17 May – his birthday – in Lucknow, where he was attending a training programme. He had been posted to Bengaluru on January 2017.

Also read: Karnataka IAS Officer Anurag Tiwari Found Dead in Lucknow

The Hazratganj Police said that preliminary investigation has revealed an injury on Anurag’s chin. The family of the 36-year-old, who was Commissioner of the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department in Bengaluru, says he feared for his life.

His brother, Mayank Tiwari, told The Quint:

At the end of March, Anurag told me that his life is under threat because he had unearthed a scam in his department.

‘Cause of Death Unclear’

The Quint accessed the postmortem report, which cryptically lists the cause of death as: “Asyphyxia, cause?” But why the question mark after ‘cause’ ?

Postmortem report of IAS officer Anurag Tiwari. (Photo Courtesy: Mayank Tiwari)

Police said an FIR has not been registered as the cause of death is unclear.

We are waiting for the viscera report because that will clarify the cause of death. We are also ready to begin a probe if the family lodges a complaint.

Anant Kumar Shahi, Investigating Officer, UP Police

Shahi said there was no need for a second autopsy as the entire postmortem process had been video-graphed.

There’s no clarity on why Tiwari’s body was found on a roadside. According to the police, nobody in the guesthouse saw him come out of his room, and there were no CCTV cameras installed in the guesthouse to offer any clues.

What Was Anurag Afraid Of?

The Quint has accessed some WhatsApp messages Anurag sent to his brothers and friends. In a message to his elder brother, Alok, on 25 March, Anurag appears to hint at some sort of trouble in Bengaluru.

A screengrab of the message Anurag sent to his elder brother Alok on 25 March. (Photo Courtesy: Mayank Tiwari)

His brother Mayank told The Quint that Anurag claimed that senior members of his department were passing on contracts to their family members.

Anurag told my eldest brother that he had located some files which exposed some seniors of his department purchasing food supplies from the relatives of politicians in violation of the set norms. This had irked his seniors and some politicians.

Mayank Tiwari, Anurag Tiwari’s brother

As a food and supplies commissioner, Anurag’s role was to inspect and purchase food supplies from the wholesale market at a low price, and to ensure that food supplies are sold at a subsidised rate at ration shops.

Anurag shared the names of the officers with me. I will share those names with the police.

Mayank Tiwari, Anurag Tiwari’s brother

Mayank claims he told some of his friends that Anurag was facing life threats.

Screengrab of the message Mayank Tiwari sent to a friend, expressing concern about Anurag. (Photo Courtesy: Mayank Tiwari)

Food And Civil Supplies Secretary Denies Alleges

Though the Tiwari family alleges wrongdoings in Anurag’s department, Karnataka’s Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Secretary, who heads the department, denied the allegations.

Anurag Tiwari never discussed with me any wrongdoings or scam in his department. Nor did he ever give a written complaint to me or the Lokayukta. I also checked with Anurag’s subordinates about any scams that they are privy of, but all them denied.

Harsh Gupta, Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs

Gupta also added that Anurag was looking after public distribution system and he was still learning the work process as he was new in his department. He also added that the department will extend full support to the UP police in the investigation.

‘How Was He Found At 6am?’

Mayank said that Anurag had visited the family in their hometown of Bairaich, UP, a few days before his death. He said he was unhappy with his job and was trying to get a transfer from Bengaluru, Mayank said.

Anurag’s family says they don’t understand how his body was found outside the guesthouse at 6am. He was a late riser, who usually woke up by 8am, his family said. Mayank reveals that the night he was found dead, Anurag had stayed up talking to his friends till about 1:30am, like he did on most nights.