Authorities had responded shortly before 4:30 a.m. to 1501 Lombard St., the location of the Francisco Bay Inn, on a report of an unconscious man, fire officials said.
Medics pronounced the man later identified as Pawar dead at the scene and notified police that the case was a possible assault, fire officials said.
Medical examiner's investigators also responded and deemed the death suspicious, prompting the Police Department's homicide detail to take over the investigation, police said.
No other information about the case was immediately available from police.
