By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, August 21, 2016 : Former manager and personal assistant (PA) of Odisha’s erstwhile princely state Parlakimedi Maharaj Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deb were among the three persons found dead inside their house at Parlakhemandi on Sunday.

Police recovered the bodies of former manager Anang Manjari Patra and personal assistant Sanjay Patra from their locked house in Jangama Sahi here this afternoon.

Local residents informed police after they sniffed foul odour emanating from the house.

Paralakheumundi police broke the lock of the house in the presence of an Executive Magistrate and found the bodies inside the house. While Sanjay Patra was found hanging in the drawing room, Anang Manjari Patra and her sister Bijaylaxmi Patra were found dead in another room.

On the other hand, Santosh Patra alias Tulu — brother of deceased— was rescued from the house in a critical condition and was rushed district hspital and later shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital.

It appears that the trio has committed suicide as Anang Manjari and Bijaylaxmi committed suicide by consuming poison, police sources said.

The house was locked from inside since last three days and no one was seen entering or coming out from the house.

The former employees of Parala Maharaj were under stress following much hue and cry over their alleged house arrest and financial misappropriation by them.

Parala Maharaj’s daughter Kalyani Gajapati and his brother Jagannath Gajapati Narayan Deb wrote to Gajapati district administration and chief minister seeking probe into the alleged misappropriation in property transactions relating to the royal family over the past 30 years.

On August 14, Parla Maharaja Suraksha Committee staged a demonstration here demanding treatment of the ailing king and probe into the wrongdoings in the financial transactions.

With the public outcry assuming violent proportions, manager Anang Manjari Patra and personal assistant Sanjay Patra and Santosh Patra tendered resignation.

On August 15, Maharaj was shifted to a private hospital in Chennai from Vizag following the advice of Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO).

Two days later, Sanjay and Santosh went to Chennai to meet Maharaj where they gave Rs 3 lakh and keys to Kalyani Gajapati, king’s daughter. On the following day, the duo had returned to the town.

Meanwhile, two platoons of police personnel have been deployed near the residence of the Patras to prevent any law and order situation.