Mumbai Mirror Bureau (December 16, 2013)

Singer Sandeep Acharya, the winner of Indian Idol 2, passed away at Gurgaon’s Medanta Hospital on Sunday. He was suffering from jaundice. The 29-year-old singer is survived by his wife and an infant daughter who is barely a month old. His last rites will be performed in his hometown, Bikaner. The singer was initially admitted to a hospital in Bikaner and was later shifted to the Gurgaon hospital on December 10.

His younger brother Akshay said: “Last night, doctors said his condition was under control and he was showing signs of recovery. We were all hoping to take him home. We had no inkling then that he would leave us forever this soon.”

The fraternity is left shocked at the sudden demise of this young talent and most took to Twitter. Sonu Nigam, one of the judges of the show wrote: “Sandeep Acharya died? Oh my God.. his Wikipedia has been modified 15 minutes back... any1 knows how? I'm so so sad. Wht a btful soul.” He later expressed his grief to Mirror.

Farah Khan, his fellow judge, who was in the middle of a shoot, said: “I am saddened by the news. He was such a nice boy. My heart goes out to his family.” Anu Malik, was equally shocked and said, “Tremendously Saddened. He was lovely and humble human being and may his soul rest in peace.