Bhubaneswar: With mystery shrouding the death of choreographer-turned-television serial actor Ranjit Patnaik alias Raja, the family members on Wednesday lodged an FIR seeking a thorough probe smelling a foul play in the matter.
According to reports, the family members of Raja have registered a complaint with Soro police station in Balasore district alleging he was murdered as the co-passengers, who had accompanied Raja to an event at Basudevpur in Bhadrak district on Saturday night, were missing from the scene.
“I will cooperate in the investigation process as I was present at the spot. To the best of my knowledge, nobody had touched him,” said programme coordinator Pralay.
Speaking to media persons, Dhaneswar, the driver, said, “After an argument with Jessi, Raja said he would not go with us and got down from the car and minutes later I found him near a bridge with fractured hands.”
However, Amiya Patnaik had alleged that this is not an accident, someone has killed him. “Our doubts are strengthened with the fact that no one was there in the hospital with his body. The three persons, who were there with him when he died, should be interrogated so that the real facts will come out.
Sources said Raja, along with event coordinator Pralay and actress Jessy, had gone to perform in an opera show at Basudevpur in Bhadrak district on Sunday night.
Though Jessy’s co-actor Tushar was supposed to attend the event, he could not join. The opera party officials expressed displeasure over it and blamed Raja.
Raja had a heated argument with Jessy over the matter and later got down from the car for refreshment and minutes later the car driver heard a scream under a bridge nearby.
Following this, Raja was rushed to Bhadrak district headquarters hospital. Later, he was rushed to SCB Medical at Cuttack where the doctors announced him as brought dead.
It may be mentioned that Raja started his career as a choreographer before stepping into the world of acting as an album actor. Later, he moved to television serial and Ollywood movies where he won many accolades for his acting skills.
He has made a name for himself for his acting in popular television serials like Pari, Devi, Uansi Kanya, Rajakanya, and Sehnai.