Calcutta, May 16: Ronnie Chakraborty, a 33-year-old television actor who was part of the mega serial Jal Nupur, allegedly drowned while swimming in a pond near his home in Santoshpur around 1am today.

Preliminary police investigations suggest Ronnie was drunk when he jumped into the pond and his death appeared to be a case of accidental drowning.

Ronnie had started his TV career eight years ago as the anchor of the music show Sangeet Bangla. Besides Jal Nupur on Star Jalsha, he had acted in Boyei Gelo, a serial on Zee Bangla that is currently off air.

According to the police, the actor had returned to his Kalibari Road home around 11.30pm on Friday. He again left home at 12.45am despite objections from his family.

An eyewitness whom the police have questioned has told investigators that Ronnie was smelling of alcohol when he came near the pond.

"I told him it was not the right time to swim but he did not listen. He stepped into the water and swam towards the left of the pond. A few seconds later, I could not see him any more. When I called out to him, there was no response," a police officer quoted the witness as saying. Police sources said the witness was a neighbour and childhood friend of Ronnie.

The witness alerted Ronnie's family and neighbours. The actor's family called up Survey Park police station. Disaster management group members recovered Ronnie's body from the pond around 4.05am.