Though Patel's father has named another youth -- who reportedly had an argument with the deceased earlier -- as the suspect in the case, the police have not made any arrests as yet.

According to eye-witnesses, Patel was walking on the road, opposite Jalaram Steel on Tuesday, when he suddenly fell on the ground. People, who gathered around Patel, found him bleeding from the right ear and head and shifted him to the Ashaktashram hospital, thinking that he may been injured in a mishap. But X-ray reports showed a bullet lodged in his head.

Eye witnesses also told the police that they saw at least two persons walking suspiciously even as Patel fell on the road.

Later Patel's father, Ratilal, in his complaint named the son of one Vitthal Bhiman, a resident of Old Shivshakti Society in Kapodara, as the suspect. He further alleged that an earlier argument between Rajnikant and the suspect could be the reason for the assault.

But the police, though were investigating this angle, stated that the reason was very weak as the fight took place more than a year ago. The police added as Rajnikant was helping his father, and owner of Sitaram Textiles in Nana Varachha area, in business recently, this angle was also being investigated. Patel was on his way to the textile unit when he was killed.

Further investigations are on and a number of persons have been questioned in the case, the police said. Kapodara PI C M Mudaliar is investigating the case, that was updated to case of murder under IPC 302 after Patel's death. The case was earlier registered under attempt to murder under IPC 307.