Popular DJ Azex alias Akshay Kumar Maharana was found hanging in his house in the Kharavela Nagar area of Bhubaneswar on Saturday night.

However, his family members alleged that Akshaya, fondly known as the smiling DJ of Odisha, who committed suicide, was under mental stress. Akshay was in a relationship with a girl who was exploiting him mentally and emotionally.

Family members said: “There was a power cut in our area and Akshaya was in his house on Saturday. When we went to call him around 10 pm, we found the room was locked from inside. When we broke the door, we found him hanging,” The DJ last spoke to his family around 6.30 pm on Saturday before retiring to his home.

Akshay Kumar’s uncle Bholanath Mahanrana told reporters, “Akshay was in a relationship with a girl. That girl along with her friends are responsible for the death of Akshaya.”

Bhubaneswar zone 1-Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manas Gadnayak told reporters said: “A case has been registered under section 306 of IPC (abetment of suicide) following a complaint lodged by the deceased’s mother. The investigation is on. The post-mortem has already been done and we are waiting for the report.”

Police have seized all the mobile phones of Akshaya.