Ranchi, Jan.1: The manager of Gujarat based Montecarlo Construction Company, Vishnu Bhai Patel alias Mamaji, who was kidnapped along with seven of his colleagues on the morning of December 30 from Pithoria, continues to remain traceless.
When contacted this evening by The Telegraph, senior superintendent of police Saket Kumar Singh confirmed that Patel had not been found. Though his colleagues were released the day that they were abducted, Patel, said to be a relative of the owners of the construction company, continued to be in captivity.
The kidnapping in Pithoria has sent shock waves among industrialists working in the state.
'Efforts are on to trace the manager, who has not been released by his kidnappers so far. We expect a positive outcome any moment,' he said. The police have denied that the company paid a hefty ransom to get the others freed.
Singh claimed he had given proper direction to ensure Patel's safe release. 'Proper direction has been given for the safe release of the company official, who has not returned from the clutches of the kidnappers. It is expected that he will return the same way the seven others,' he said.
Patel is said to be a close relative of the company's proprietor, Gautam Patel, and was deputed in the state to look after the Rs 450-crore four laning work of Ranchi Patratu road over the last year. Delay in his release has worried police as he is a key person of the company and any failure to ensure his safe release will only expose the weakness of the police force and create terror among those interested in investing in the state.
Sources said the police are making every effort to secure Patel's release. 'Visit of DIG Sampat Meena at the place of occurrence before an FIR was registered on December 30 indicates the seriousness of the police officers. The force has activated all its sources in the city and forest area to take care of Patel,' an officer requesting anonymity said.
Like in the kidnapping case, there is no further development in the Rs 75 lakh loot case registered at Kotwali police station.
