PUNE, February 23: A 57-year-old businessman from Delhi, who had come to Pune for purchasing scrap from various defence organisations, is reported to be missing under mysterious circumstances for the last two days.The Delhi-based Janata Steel Company owner Harbans Singh Santaram Oberoi, who had come here to participate in the auctions of scrap at the CFD, Khadki and the Air Force, was last seen at the Mangalwar Peth-based Hotel Tourist on the night of February 20.
All of Oberoi's belongings, including his wallet containing Rs 16,000 in cash and garments, were found intact in his hotel room which was locked from outside. Oberoi had neither returned the keys at the reception nor he informed the hotel staff about where he was going when he left.
The Delhi-based businessman had made telephone calls to several friends and family members since he arrived at the hotel on the evening of February 19. However, he did not inform anyone whether he was planning to go out.
His disappearance was noticed when hiswife's persistent efforts to contact him telephonically failed yesterday. Anxious, she sought the help of her brother in Pune, who filed a missing person case with the Samartha police last night.
Preliminary investigations by PSI P D Garud have revealed that Oberoi had gone to Kurla in Mumbai to meet an auctioneer in the morning on February 19. He had decided to come down to Pune after he met a friend, a trader from Bhavani peth area at Mumbai, the investigations revealed.
Meanwhile, the Samartha police have launched a massive hunt to trace the missing businessman. The police have also announced a suitable reward to be given to the person who provides information about Oberoi's whereabouts.
Fair complexioned, Oberoi is 5 feet 10 inches tall and has a scar on his left temple. He sports a long beard and usually wears a pagdi. He converses in Punjabi and Hindi, police said.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
