CHICAGO — The widow of a Chicago lottery winner who authorities say was poisoned with cyanide has battled with his siblings over control of his estate, including his $425,000 prize money, court documents show.
Urooj Khan, who owned several dry-cleaning operations and some real estate, died suddenly July 20, just days before he was to collect his winnings from the Illinois Lottery.
With no signs of trauma, authorities initially ruled he died of natural causes. A relative then came forward with suspicions that prompted a fuller examination and led to the conclusion that he was intentionally poisoned.
In another development Wednesday, a lawyer for the man’s widow, Shabana Ansari, said Chicago police detectives questioned her in November for more than four hours at a police station and searched the two-story home where she lived with Khan.
Attorney Steven Kozicki said Ansari maintains she had nothing to do with the death of her 46-year-old husband and he has no indication that investigators might be looking at her as a potential suspect.
The fact that Khan diedwithout a will opened the door to the legal tussle over his estate, which his wife says amounts to more than $1.2 million, including the prize money, his share of the drycleaning businesses and real estate, as well as several vehicles and a bank account.
Under Illinois law, Khan’s estate would be split between his wife and 17-yearold daughter from a previous marriage.
However, Khan’s brother, Imtiaz Khan, and sister, Meraj Khan, expressed concern in court filings that Khan’s daughter might not get her fair share.
The siblings, who live in the Chicago area, are not staking a claim to any of the money for themselves.
Meraj Khan also is seeking to become the legal guardian of the teen, who lives with Ansari.
Front Section, Pages 4 on 01/10/2013