Bhubaneswar, Aug. 27: Parents of engineering student Ashutosh Mohanty alias Rishi, who died under mysterious circumstances in May last year, today demanded that police bring his maternal uncle under the purview of the probe.

The incident had created a furore after Opposition parties had alleged that a controversial sex tape, which allegedly featured Bhubaneswar mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, had links with the incident.

"My son's mobile phone was with his uncle after his autopsy at Capital Hospital. The phone was with him for around 20 days before he handed it over to us," said Pritirani, Rishi's mother.

One of Rishi's female friends had allegedly shot the sex video and later passed it on to the 23-year-old engineering student. The cops had later sent the phone to the forensic laboratory in Calcutta, but it is yet to get the report.

She also alleged that it was her brother who persuaded them to write a letter that the mayor was not linked to the incident. She said: "My brother works as a contractor and is close to Jena. After the sex tape became viral, he persuaded us to write a handout saying that the mayor did not have any links with Rishi's death. The handout was later circulated to various media houses."

Jena, who had visited Capital Hospital after the autopsy, denied any links to the incident.

The parents also alleged that the police was slowing down the probe. "A year has passed since his death, but the cops are yet to ascertain the exact reason behind the death. They have been claiming that my son died of a drug overdose, but he was never an addict. We urge the police to complete the investigation at the earliest possible," Pritirani said.

Deputy commissioner of police, Bhubaneswar, Satyabrata Bhoi said they were awaiting the forensic report of the mobile phone.

Petition to CM

Mother of veterinary doctor Manas Ranjan Das, who was kidnapped with his two aides from Giridih in Jharkhand on Wednesday, today sought chief minister Naveen Patnaik's intervention to rescue his son.

The elderly woman went to Naveen Nivas, the chief minister's official residence, to meet him and submitted a petition to an official.

"I was hoping to meet the chief minister. But since he was not available, an official received my petition. The official concerned also asked me to meet the deputy commissioner of police as he had intimated the matter to him," said Santilata Mishra.

"Jharkhand police informed us about the incident around 10pm on Wednesday. The police also said it was a case of abduction for ransom. We urge the Odisha government to intervene and help us get him back," Santilata said.

Former Pradesh Congress Committee president Jayadev Jena also demanded that the government consider the matter seriously.

"Das is an Odia and the director general of police and the home department should intervene," he said.