An assistant of Rajkumar Santoshi, acclaimed director and producer of such as Khakhee, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Lajja, Pukar, China Gate and Andaz Apna Apna died after being run in Thane.

The 48-year-old victim, Rakesh Jha, was run over around 10.45 pm on Tuesday by a Maruti car as he was returning home in Balkum, Thane west, on his motorcycle.

According to eyewitnesses, the car hit Jha from behind near Teen Hath Naka flyover (on Eastern Express Highway), knocking him to the ground. The vehicle then ran over his head; his body lay in a pool of blood for over an hour the eyewitnesses reported.

Apparently, a biker chased the car and managed to get the number of the car. Naupada police has registered an FIR, sources said, and they were on a lookout for the vehicle and its driver.

Witness Shashank Pradhan said: "I was behind the car that hit the bike. I saw the car run over the victim's head. Instead of stopping and helping the victim, the driver fled the spot."

Half-an-hour following the incident took place, Jha's brother-in-law Rajesh Thakkar, was passing by and stopped when he saw a crowd around the victim.

"I was on my way back home. When I saw the commotion, I stopped to help. I stop at all such places to help accident victims. But I could not recognise my brother-in-law because he was lying on his back. I just kept making calls to the police and also hospital authorities. It was only when the police arrived at the spot and turned the body that I realised that it was Rakesh," said Thakkar.

A police officer states they would be able to trace the driver of the car. "We have already sent a request to Thane RTO to find out who the owner of the car is. In a day or two, we will come to know about it," said the officer.

Shocked, Jha's sister-in-law Neelam Malik said, "We never thought our society was so cruel. The driver who rammed into his bike did not even care to stop and help him. To add to it, he also drove over his head."

Similarly Bharat Malik, Jha's other brother-in-law, said the police should seize the offender as soon as possible. "The car driver should be severely punished. This is not how you treat another human being," said Bharat.

The victim's family stated that Jha had been associated with Hindi cinema for the past 10 years, having worked on various films, including Khakhee, China Gate, Lajja and Legend of Bhagat Singh.

Currently, he was working on Santoshi's latest project, Halla Bol, starring Ajay Devgan.