Muristek
Kolkata, June 1
The Kolkata Police have registered a case of unnatural death following the death of singer Krishnakumar Kunnath popularly known as KK, a senior official said on Wednesday.
The case has been lodged with New Market police station under whose jurisdiction falls the five-star hotel where KK had put up and felt unwell before being taken to a hospital on Tuesday night, he told PTI.
"We have started an investigation into KK's death and a case of unnatural death has been registered. We are talking to the hotel authorities and examining the CCTV footage to know what transpired before he was taken to the hospital," the police official said, adding that two men had been questioned in connection with the case.
The initial probe had revealed that the 53-year-old singer, who was on a two-day tour to Kolkata to perform at two college events, was "almost mobbed" by fans at the hotel to which he had returned after performing at the Nazrul Mancha auditorium in the southern part of the city, he said.
"The singer had allowed a couple of fans to take photos with him, but later refused to carry on with the selfie session. He left the lobby and went upstairs where he reportedly stumbled and fell on the floor. Those accompanying him sounded the hotel administration," the official said.
KK was rushed to a private hospital in the southern part of the city where he was declared "brought dead" by doctors, he said, adding that probably because of the fall, the singer had two injuries -- one on the left side of his forehead and the other on the lips.
"He was brought to the hospital at around 10pm," a senior official of the hospital said.
Doctors at the hospital said they suspected "cardiac arrest" to be the cause of the death.
A post-mortem examination will be conducted during the day to ascertain the exact cause of death, he added.
The singer's wife reached the city and visited the hospital where the body had been kept.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has condoled KK's death.
The sudden and untimely demise of the Bollywood playback singer KK shocks and saddens us. My colleagues have been working from last night to ensure that all requisite support is given for necessary formalities, his rites and to his family now. My deep condolences.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 1, 2022"The sudden and untimely demise of the Bollywood playback singer KK shocks and saddens us. My colleagues have been working from last night to ensure that all requisite support is given for necessary formalities, his rites and to his family now. My deep condolences," she tweeted.
She said the state police would give a gun salute to the deceased singer.
"KK was a youth icon. We have lost a great singer. I have spoken to his wife who has arrived in Kolkata. Depending on the weather condition, I will try to reach the airport to pay last respects to the singer. The state police will give a gun salute to him," she said.
Initial hits such as 'Pyaar ke pal' and 'Yaaron' made KK popular among the youth. As a playback singer, he has recorded Bollywood numbers like 'Ankhon mein teri' ('Om Shanti Om'), 'Zara sa' ('Jannat'), 'Khuda jaane' ('Bachna Ae Hasino') and 'Tadap tadap' ('Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam').
A versatile singer, KK also recorded songs in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi and Bengali.