British-Indian Retiree Found Deceased in Patna Hotel Room
In a somber incident in the capital city of Bihar, a British citizen of Indian origin was discovered dead inside his hotel room in the Jakkanpur area of Patna on Monday evening. The deceased has been identified as Ajay Kumar Sharma, aged 76, who had previously worked as a retired official in the electricity department in England.
Background and Circumstances of the Discovery
Originally hailing from Nalanda district in Bihar, Sharma had renounced his Indian citizenship some time ago and was residing in the United Kingdom. According to police reports, he had been staying at the hotel since January 18 and had traveled to Patna with the intention of selling his property before planning to return to the UK. Both of his sons are also settled in the United Kingdom.
The situation came to light when Sharma failed to emerge from his room and did not respond to repeated phone calls or knocks on his door. Concern escalated when his driver, who was scheduled to pick him up, contacted the hotel multiple times to inquire why the guest was not answering. Promptly, the hotel staff alerted the local police authorities about the unusual circumstances.
Police Investigation and Initial Findings
Jakkanpur Station House Officer (SHO) Rituraj Kumar Singh provided details to reporters on Tuesday, stating that police personnel arrived at the hotel along with a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team. Upon breaking open the door, they found Sharma lying dead on the bed.
"Prima facie, it appears that the man died due to poor health or suffocation," SHO Singh explained. He further mentioned that a day prior to his death, Sharma had returned to his room and informed the hotel staff that he was not feeling well. Instead of requesting a full meal, he had asked for some fruits, indicating possible health issues.
The FSL team meticulously collected evidence from the room, and the body was subsequently sent to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for a postmortem examination. Police officials, including Patna Sadar Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abhinav Kumar, also visited the hotel to question staff members and the owner. They reviewed CCTV footage and examined the hotel's entry and exit registers as part of their investigation.
Recovery of Belongings and Legal Proceedings
Near the body, authorities recovered a suitcase containing documents with details about Sharma's family members. Police prepared a seizure list of the deceased's belongings, which included various documents along with both Indian and British currencies. The police have informed his family members in the UK about the tragic incident.
As of now, no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered in connection with the death. Police officials clarified that this decision was made because Sharma's family members are currently in the United Kingdom, and further legal steps will be determined based on their instructions and the postmortem report findings.
The investigation continues as authorities await the official postmortem report to determine the exact cause of death, while preliminary indications point toward natural causes or health-related complications.
