Abhishek, a resident of Gurgaon and the only son of Dr Subhash Chandra Mishra, employed with Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi, reportedly slipped and fell into the pit of the falls while answering nature’s call on Friday. The police recovered his trousers and slippers from near the falls while his mobile phone is missing.

Abhishek and three of his batchmates — including Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter Ragini — had gone to the spot for a picnic. His body was fished out in the presence of his father, mother and sisters who arrived in Ranchi as soon as they heard the news. A postmortem was later conducted at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).

Chandra Shekhar Prasad, associate professor with the department of forensic science, RIMS, said drowning was the cause of death. He con firmed the victim had not consumed liquor or any toxic substance.

However, Abhishek’s mother and sisters, in the presence of mediapersons, said they suspected foul play. Blaming Ragini, the sisters said: “My brother was not wooing her, it was she who was interested in him.” Senior SP Naresh Prasad said it was a clear case of drowning. “We will, however, look into all the points raised by the kin of the deceased.” “When an ordinary girl can go for a picnic with friends, why can’t the railway minister’s daughter,” he asked, adding was Ragini was very distressed over the drowning.

Meanwhile, Garhwa MLA Girinath Singh also arrived at RIMS and met Dr Mishra, who refused to comment on the incident. “What could I say when I have lost my only son” was all he said.

S.K. Mukherjee, vicechancellor of BIT-Mesra, said Abhishek and the others had gone without taking the permission of institute authorities. “We did not know that Mishra and his three batchmates had gone to visit Dasham Falls. It was also a holiday that day,” he told HT.