(Image source from: New Indian Express)

A 35-year-old Non-Resident Indian (NRI) businessman was found dead at the five-star Taj Palace at Chanakyapuri in Delhi, the police said on Sunday.

The incident became known on Saturday morning when the deceased, identified as Munni Jaitley, an India-born United States citizen, didn't respond to his father's phone calls.

"His father called the hotel reception and requested them to check his son's status. The hotel staff tried to connect with Jaitely through the landline, but didn't succeed," Additional DCP, Eish Singhal, told IANS.

"Later, the hotel manager went to the sixth-floor room of Jaitely and knocked at the door. When he didn't get any response, the room was opened with the duplicate key. Jaitely was laying unconscious," Singhal said.

"They took him to the nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. The police were informed by the hotel manager," the officer said.

At the time of the initial investigation, no foul play could be identified since there was no sign of anyone, including the hotel personnel, visiting the room between Friday night and Saturday morning as per the CCTV footage. "The deceased's mother didn't suspect murder," he added.

A medical board would carry out autopsy today to find out if he consumed any drug, causing the death, the Additional DCP said.

The deceased, who was single and stayed with his family in the United States, was a regular visitor to the national capital owing to his business. He had come to stay at the hotel on Thursday, the officer said.

By Sowmya Sangam