A 28-year-old man, identified as the brother of an RJD member of Legislative Council (MLC), was found hanging from the ceiling of a godown at Railway Colony under Town police station around 10pm on Monday.

The body was identified as that of Prabhat Kumar, a resident of Magardahi under Muffasil police station of the district. Prabhat was the sibling of RJD MLC Roma Bharti. The police said Prabhat was a contractor and undertook assignments of the Indian Railways. The police are yet to find out the motive behind the alleged suicide or murder.

The police and even Prabhat’s family members had not lodged any FIR till reports last came in. People, who were close to Prabhat, blocked the roundabout near sadar hospital at 11am on Tuesday, when the post-mortem was being conducted. However, the blockade was lifted after the body was handed over to Prabhat’s relatives.

Samastipur deputy superintendent of police Rajiv Ranjan said: “The police have recovered a body of a youth and have conducted post-mortem. The report is yet to come. The autopsy report should come within 24 hours. The family has said they will institute a case but we have not received any complaint so far. An FIR will be lodged only then.”

Sources said the family of the deceased does not suspect it to be a case of suicide. Sources said: “The deceased was a contractor and had been in the business since the murder of his brother in-law, Akhilesh Rai. The deceased took charge of the business soon after Rai, an RJD leader, was shot dead in 2006. Business rivalry could be a reason behind his death.”