Ambani saviour found dead

An aviation engineer who uncovered an alleged plot to bring down a helicopter belonging to one of India's wealthiest tycoons has been found dead - adding another layer of intrigue to the already-gripping mystery.

Bharat Borge, who formerly served in the Indian Army, was found dead alongside railway tracks in Mumbai. A post-mortem examination concluded that he had died from multiple injuries after being struck by a train.

The 45-year-old engineer had apparently blown the whistle on a possible sabotage plot against leading industrialist Anil Ambani last weekend.

Borge found mud and gravel during an inspection of the gearbox of a helicopter owned by the Mumbai-based billionaire. Officials from Ambani's company said it was evidence of an attempt by his industrial rivals to try and kill him.

Police had questioned Borge and other employees of a company contracted to work on the helicopter but detectives said there was no suspicion that he was responsible for the sabotage.

Reports said that a note was discovered on Borge's body addressed to the detective leading the investigation.

In the message, Borge claimed that he had been visited by officials from Ambani's company, the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, just days earlier.

"After you questioned me and left, Reliance officials visited me. They asked me some questions but I didn't tell them anything. One of them took my number and said they would talk to me again the next day. I got scared that I would be used," he wrote.

Police have told his family they believe he committed suicide. But the family said there was something "fishy" about his death and have demanded that it be investigated by India's federal investigation unit, the Central Bureau of Intelligence.

- INDEPENDENT