Kankerbagh resident Rupesh. Telegraph picture

Patna, Jan. 8: Almost 10 days after a 35-year-old man, Rupesh, went missing from the Kankerbagh area, his maternal uncle today lodged a complaint with the local police station.

Rupesh, originally from Jamshedpur, was working with a Patna-based NGO, Kaushalya Foundation, till December 2010. He was staying at his uncle’s house in Kankerbagh. Rupesh left the house on the morning of December 30 but did not return. His phone was also switched off which made his relatives suspect foul play.

Rupesh’s maternal uncle Dinesh Kumar Sharma said: “On December 30, Rupesh, like other days, left the house early in the morning. We thought he had gone outside to have tea. However, when he did not come back till afternoon we got worried and called on his cellphone. It was switched off. Later, I contacted Rupesh’s father in Jamshedpur about his disappearance.”

Explaining the reason for the delay in lodging a complaint, Dinesh said Rupesh had earlier left for unknown destinations without informing his parents and relatives, but returned in two to three days. This time, too, they hoped he would return soon.

Dinesh, however, said Rupesh never switched off his cellphone. “This is the first time Rupesh has been out of home for 10 days and his mobile is also not working,” the uncle added.

Rupesh was supposed to leave for Jamshedpur on December 30. His luggage was packed but he did not take it with him. He had around Rs 300-400 in his wallet, Dinesh said

Nitesh Kumar Sharma, Rupesh’s brother who came to Patna recently from Jamshedpur, said: “My brother has not turned up either here or at Jamshedpur till now. It’s been 10 days since he is traceless, leaving us with no other option but to register a missing complaint with the police.”

Family members claimed Rupesh was suffering from depression, as he was not content with his professional life.

Rupesh, who completed his MBA from Meerut University, was not getting good job offers despite his impressive academic record. He was also changing jobs very quickly. Rupesh had joined Kaushalya Foundation in November and was getting Rs 12,000 per month. He was told to leave the organisation within a month of his joining.

A senior police official of Kankerbagh police station said: “We have registered a missing complaint and started investigation in the case.”