LUCKNOW, Oct. 23 -- A key accused in the multi-crore pension scam in Chitrakoot, Sandeep Kumar Srivastava, who was an employee of Chitrakoot treasury, reportedly died due to heart attack after his health deteriorated on Sunday night after being taken into police custody for interrogation in the matter, confirmed senior police officials on Tuesday. He was accused of irregularity in issuing pensions worth Rs 42.04 crore from the treasury between August 30, 2018 and October 6, 2025 and was taken into custody by the local police on Saturday (October 18). The family of the deceased has alleged that he died due to police brutality during interrogation. Sandeep's brother, Sachin Srivastava, said that he was taken into custody on October 18 along with other accused, including Awadhesh Pratap Singh, Vikash Singh Sachan, and Ashok Verma. Sachin Srivastava claimed that Sandeep's death was a result of police torture and demanded action against the responsible officers. Chitrakoot superintendent of police (SP) Arun Kumar Singh has however, refuted all allegations and claimed that the accused Sandeep was brought to the Karwi Kotwali police station on Saturday afternoon and he was handed over in his family's custody after he complained of anxiety and vomiting soon after the police started interrogating him about the scam. Another Chitakoot police official said that Sandeep's brother took him to the district hospital where doctors suggested consultation from a higher centre following which he was taken to a Prayagraj hospital. He later died during treatment in Prayagraj when his health deteriorated again on Sunday, he added. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav has demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. The family has also raised concerns about the handling of the case, alleging that despite 20 people being detained, none had been formally arrested....