PANAJI: Goa Police have registered an unnatural death case following the death of veteran actor Nana Patekar, who was found unresponsive at his residence in Dona Paula and brought dead to Manipal Hospital, Bambolim, early Thursday morning.
Police said an inquest had been initiated as part of the prescribed procedure, with further enquiry underway to establish the cause of death.
According to police records, Panaji police station received a call from the medical officer at Manipal Hospital at 8.07 am on Thursday, informing them that Vishwanath (Nana) Gajanan Patekar, 76, had been brought dead to the hospital’s casualty ward from his residence in Dona Paula. Police personnel subsequently visited the hospital and spoke to the medical officer before informing senior officers and registering an unnatural death case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the death appeared to be a case of cardiac arrest at first glance. However, the exact cause of death will be established after the post-mortem report is received. The officer said the unnatural death case was registered as a matter of procedure since Patekar had been declared brought dead at the hospital, necessitating an inquest. Further enquiry into the circumstances surrounding Patekar’s death is in progress.
Meanwhile, Patekar’s last rites were performed with full state honours at his farmhouse in Donje, Pune, at around 11.30 pm on Thursday. His son, Malhar Patekar, performed the final rites in the presence of family members, relatives, friends and admirers.
A ceremonial guard of honour was accorded to the veteran actor before the cremation.
