Though the police claim to have traced the men who are holding Hari Charan Vashisht at an undisclosed location, the details are

being kept a secret to avoid hampering the investigation.

A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, told Newsline, that Vashisht was working as a senior assistant in the Punjab Agriculture department, but had emerged as a spiritual leader, following his religious activities.

Vashisht left his house for Chandigarh on February 28 in his Honda City car, said his son Deepak. When he did not return till late evening, the family tried calling him on his mobile, which was switched off.

Since then, the family has been making efforts to trace Vashisht, but to no avail.

The police had initially lodged a missing person report, but this evening, a case of abduction was registered after investigations pointed towards the involvement of some locals.

Though the family has not received any ransom call, police say Vashisht was abducted for some ulterior motive, which will be unearthed only after those involved behind the abduction are caught.