Ananta Ojha's body to reach home tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: The mortal remains of noted Odia playwright, jatra actor and director Ananta Ojha will arrive at his village in Kendrapara district from Bengaluru tomorrow after Odisha government cleared the pending medical bills of the Hospital where he was undergoing treatment.

The hospital authorities reportedly detained the body of Ojha as his family members were unable to pay the pending bill amounting to Rs 8 lakh. However, Odisha government paid the bills today following which the hospital handed over the body to his family.

"CM Naveen Patnaik has made all arrangements to bring his body to his native village after clearing the hospital bills," Odisha Health Minister Pratap Jena said.

Ojha, who was active in opera industry for nearly three decades breathed his last at a private hospital in Bengaluru after a long battle against mouth cancer.

He has scripted over 200 popular plays and acted and directed in many jatras.