Actor Rahul Banerjee Drowns; Shoot Lacked Police Permit
Police also noted that the shooting team had not obtained permission to film at the location.
Kolkata: A day after young Tollywood actor Rahul Arunodoy Banerjee lost his life during the shooting of a Bengali TV serial ‘Bholebaba Par Karega’ at picturesque Talsari sea beach in Odisha, the post-mortem report has suggested his death due to accidental drowning apparently.
The 43-year-old actor's body, which was brought to Digha in East Midnapore on Sunday night after its recovery, underwent post mortem at a district hospital on Monday. According to the post mortem report, Rahul fell down in one of the sudden underwater deep zones at the coastline and remained drowned there for a long time.
As a result, sand and salty water choked and swelled his lungs leading to his death. The Odisha police said that neither any permission nor precautions were taken by the crew for the shooting. The local cops came to know about the incident only after they were informed about it following the occurrence.
The police also seized the shooting footage which revealed the sequence of the accident. The video showed Rahul falling down near a boat in the water while trying to save his co-actor Shweta, who was in a scene, after she fell down.
Some of the crew members claimed that before the incident happened they repeatedly shouted at the two actors, asking them not to move towards the sea but their desperate warnings went in vain.
In the afternoon, the actor's body was brought from Digha to his residence at Bijoygarh in Jadavpur where many, from filmstars to fans, paid their last respect to him. Among others were East Bengal football club officials and CPI(M) leaders who bid adieu to their dedicated supporter. In the evening, the actor's last rites were performed at Keoratala Crematorium in Chetla.
