Nagpur: Lakadganj Police have registered a case of alleged abduction after a 62-year-old man went missing while working at a gaushala in Ambedkar Nagar on September 2. His family has also alleged that a local politician could be linked to the incident, prompting police to examine the claim as part of their investigation.

The missing man has been identified as Rajesh Girjashankar Pandya (62), a resident of Janata Society in Ambedkar Nagar. His son, Dishant Pandya (25), who runs a traders’ shop in the area, approached the police after his father failed to return home.

According to police, Rajesh was working at Kamdhenu Gaushala, located opposite his son’s shop, on September 2. When he did not return by evening, his family members repeatedly tried calling his mobile phone, but there was no response. Relatives and acquaintances subsequently searched for him at various locations and contacted people known to him, but could not trace him.

During the search, a family acquaintance, Gaurav Barskar, told Dishant that he had met Rajesh around noon on September 2. Residents near the gaushala reportedly told Barskar that police had called Rajesh to the police station, following which he left saying he was going there. However, he did not return home.

Based on the complaint, Lakadganj Police registered a case under Section 138 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against an unidentified person for allegedly abducting Rajesh and moving him from one place to another against his will with fraudulent intent.

Lakadganj Police Inspector Mukund Kawade said investigators are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to trace the missing man. He also confirmed that the allegations made by the family against a local politician are being looked into as one of the possible angles in the case.