‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ Actor Rakesh Diwana aka ‘Maharaj Ji’ Passes Away

Television actor Rakesh Diwana popular for his role of Maharaj Ji in Star Plus's hit serial "Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai" breathed his last on Sunday, 27 April. Complications following a surgery is said to be the cause of his death.

Diwana, who has also featured in the NDTV Imagine's "Ramayan" (2008) is said to have undergone a weight loss surgery a few days back at an Indore hospital and developed complications later.

"Diwana had undergone bariatric surgery on April 23 and at that time his condition was normal. After the procedure, he suffered hypertension and brain stem dysfunction which deteriorated his condition and he was shifted to ICU. All efforts were made to improve his condition, but he could not be saved," read the hospital's statement, reported PTI.

However, the actor's family has alleged medical negligence as the reason behind his death.

Shivani Diwana, the actor's daughter revealed to The Times of India that even though the weight loss surgery is a simple procedure, the actor was put in ICU after his operation on 23 April.

The doctors had assured the family that the actor would be fine but after three days the actor's state grew critical and he was put on ventilator. And finally on Sunday the doctors announced that he had passed away due to brain damage.

"I am finding the entire scenario suspicious because the hospital didn't charge any money post surgery. We had already paid the charges for the surgery but the ambulance and other charges were not charged post my father's death. I still cannot believe that the surgery about which doctors were so confident about would take such a bad turn," Shivani told the daily.

[ED:VS]