Spicezee Bureau

Ludhiana, July 31: Ishmeet Singh, the winner of last year’s ‘Voice of India’ show, who died in a swimming pool of a Madives resort may have been murdered, according to his family members. The murder, which was being seen as death by drowning has suddenly turned sinister. As India mourns the death of the 19-yr-old singer from Ludhiana, his family demands higher level probe into his death.

However, just hours before he was scheduled to get a state funeral in Ludhiana, Ishmeet’s uncle Charan Kamal Singh stated here that injury marks on the forehead and chest and the budding singer`s swollen face had aroused suspicion that he may have been murdered.

Ishmeet’s uncle said that he would file an FIR based on the post mortem reports. He appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal to order a proper enquiry into the death of the singer.

“His death is not an accident alone. It could be part of a conspiracy. We want the matter investigated thoroughly. We want a case registered,” he said while talking to Spicezee.

There are several reasons to believe that the death may have been a murder, according to the relatives of Ishmeet. The swimming pool was just 6ft deep – not deep enough to drown a young man. Then Ishmeet’s friends present at the spot gave contradictory statements.

Singh expressed three causes of murder: Jealousy of fellow-contestants, conspiracy of professional singers or murder by some militant outfit.

Playback singer Shaan, the popular host of the show, had said that Singh had been seen at the deep end of the pool egging on his friends to join him.

"He kept teasing the other singers who were accompanying him. That is why when he started screaming for help, they all thought he was kidding," Shaan said. "By the time they could get to him, it was too late."

When asked whether Ishmeet was being harassed by someone, Singh said that Ishmeet was a very gentle soul and never complained about anyone.

Meanwhile, doctors at the Dayanand Medical College and hospital (DMCH) Thursday commenced post mortem of the body, which arrived here late Wednesday from Maldives via New Delhi. According to the preliminary post mortem report, Ishmeet had died due to drowning. However the family remains unconvinced.

The 19-year-old singer had gone to Maldives for a promotional event with the music company with which he had a contract. Ishmeet left Mumbai Tuesday morning for the Maldives, where he was to perform on Aug 1. However, he drowned Tuesday in a swimming pool at a beach resort.

Ishmeet on Nov 26 last year, won the `Voice of India` singing contest, pipping his closest rival Harshit from Uttar Pradesh in a keen contest. He was given the winner`s trophy by melody queen Lata Mangeshkar.

Supporters of the singer voted heavily for him from Punjab during the finals of the contest. Though Harshit led the votes tally in most regions of the country, the final count went in Ishmeet`s favour due to heavy voting from Punjab.