Kolkata: Odisha Police began legal process to collect relevant footage that was recorded moments before the death of actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee. The Odisha Police wrote to East Midnapore police to hand over the relevant footage to them, which can help them take the investigation forward.
As part of the intensified probe, Odisha Police will approach their counterparts in Digha to procure images of the accident and have sought the raw footage of the drowning from the production unit. The investigation aims to determine why the crew entered the water despite being cautioned and the exact sequence of events that led to the actor's death.
Sources claimed that the footage will be sent to FSL for preservation. A study of the same will be carried out before cops at Talsari Coastal police station decide to issue notice to anyone in this case. Among those named in the FIR lodged by Rahul's wife, Priyanka Sarkar, is veteran scriptwriter and producer Leena Gangopadhyay. Sources said that she will be asked to record her statement soon.
The move follows a formal complaint lodged at the Talasari police station by the actor's wife who has alleged gross criminal negligence on the part of the production house, Magic Moments. Rahul died on March 29 while filming at Talasari beach.
Cops said, the case has been registered under Sections 106(1), 240 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, pertaining to causing death by negligence, providing false statements and acts committed by several persons in furtherance of common intention.
Besides Gangopadhyay, sources said that notices are also likely to be served on a few others named in the FIR, like Shaibal Banerjee, Subhashis Mandal, Shantanu Nandi and Chandra Shekhar Chakraborty.
Priyanka's complaint alleged that the production unit was filming without requisite permissions at a location deemed hazardous and unsuitable for shooting. She further claimed that the unit ignored explicit warnings from local residents about the treacherous sea conditions and failed to implement any basic safety protocols or provide life-saving equipment at the site.