The post BAI chairman Akhilesh Das Gupta dies of heart attack in Lucknow appeared first on APN News.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A controversial figure, he died of a massive heart attack in Lucknow at 56

By an APN Correspondent

Akhilesh Das Gupta, former Union minister and president of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), a controversial figure who had hogged the limelight in Indian sport as much as he had in much of Uttar Pradesh’s political firmament, died of a massive heart attack in Lucknow on April 12. He was 56.

On April 2, he presided over the badminton World Superseries tournament final at Delhi’s Siri Fort stadium where India’s Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu emerged champion.

His career, however, was mired in controversies. APN’s sister publication India Legal had, in its April 10 issue , exposed a huge racket that Das Gupta had headed and abetted. This ranged from harassment of female trainee players to banking frauds and land grabs, especially when Das Gupta was mayor of Lucknow.

Das Gupta, a former badminton player himself, was a Bahujan Samaj Party MP (Rajya Sabha), following two stints of being MP (Rajya Sabha) with the Congress. Before the recent assembly elections he returned to the Congress.

Das Gupta was the son of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Banarsi Das. His real estate interest, educational institution and other interests in UP are massive.

Apart from the CBI probe into a Japan trip he sent his ward to—as did many BAI officials—India Legal has exposed many other illegal deals in his time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The post BAI chief Akhilesh Das Gupta passes away appeared first on APN News.