Bhubaneswar: Odisha Motor Vehicle Department constable Ashutosh Mrudungia, who had accused his wife and brother-in-law of setting him on fire, succumbed to his burn injuries while undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Friday morning.

Mrudungia had suffered nearly 80 per cent burn injuries in an incident near his wife's government quarters in the police colony at Bijipur Chowk under Berhampur Town police limits on June 5. He had been undergoing treatment in the Burn Ward of AIIMS Bhubaneswar since the incident.

The case had taken a dramatic turn after the 31-year-old constable, in a statement recorded by police in the presence of a magistrate at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, alleged that his wife, Sandhya Nayak, and her brother, Dibas Nayak, had set him ablaze.

According to his statement, Mrudungia had gone to his wife's quarters when the brother-sister duo poured petrol on him. He claimed that while he was trying to escape, his brother-in-law lit a matchstick, causing him to catch fire.

Police had earlier stated that Mrudungia was seen running down the staircase engulfed in flames before entering the residence of a neighbouring havildar in an attempt to save himself. The havildar sustained burn injuries while trying to rescue him. Initially, the incident was suspected to be a case of self-immolation.

Following a complaint lodged by Mrudungia's sister, Nibedita Patra, police registered a case against Sandhya and Dibas. Investigators collected statements from the victim, the accused persons and eyewitnesses. A scientific team also seized a plastic bottle and a matchbox from the scene, while mobile phones belonging to the victim, his wife and brother-in-law were sent for forensic examination.

Police investigation had also revealed that the couple had been facing marital discord. Sandhya had earlier lodged a domestic assault complaint against Mrudungia on May 18, leading to his arrest. Mrudungia was released on bail on June 2, three days before the burn incident occurred.