BENGALURU: A 45-year-old businessman, previously arrested in a high-profile extortion and threat letter case, was found dead by suicide in an apartment near Hoskerehalli rented by actress Krishi Thapanda late on Wednesday night.The deceased, identified as Vaishak Upadhyay, was found hanging inside a flat at Elegant Terrace Apartments. Thapanda alerted the police after learning about the incident around 11 pm.According to the preliminary investigation, Vaishak, a resident of Girinagar, had been staying at the flat and had access to one of its two keys. The actress had been away from the apartment for nearly a week when she received messages from him indicating that he was distressed over ongoing disputes and personal issues.Police said Vaishak, who was married and had a 13-year-old child, had reportedly been living away from his family for the past few days following marital problems.In the messages, Vaishak allegedly told Thapanda that he was tired of life and intended to end it. She tried to console him through calls and messages and urged him not to take any extreme step. During one of their last conversations, she suggested that they visit the Kukke Subrahmanya Temple together, to which he agreed.However, when Thapanda returned to the apartment later that night and used her key to enter the flat, she found Vaishak hanging in the bedroom, police said. She immediately informed the police control room around 11.30 pm, following which Rajarajeshwarinagar police rushed to the spot and launched an investigation.Vaishak and actress Krishi Thapanda had been close friends for several years, and he had been staying at the apartment with her knowledge.Vaishak had earlier been arrested by HAL police in February in connection with a sensational threat letter case involving businessman and advocate Aravind Reddy. Investigators alleged that anonymous letters demanding an apology and Rs 6–7 crore were sent through a courier service, warning of serious consequences if the demands were not met.During the probe, police reportedly traced the letters to Vaishak, arrested him and later sent him to judicial custody.His wife, Meghana, has filed a complaint. A senior police officer said she has not alleged anyone’s involvement in his death. An Unnatural Death Report (UDR) has been registered, and further investigation is underway.Police have also recorded Thapanda’s statement and collected the messages Vaishak allegedly sent her before his death.
