Many questions had been raised by the disappearance, since Joshi was last seen engaged in a heated quarrel with Rajesh Patel, a childhood friend, in Athwalines. Joshi's wife told the police that she suspected foul play. Tensions heightened as Patel left for Ahmedabad the very next day after Joshi's disappearance, and was not available for questioning for almost a week.

Subsequently, though, Patel came back to Surat, and told the police about the incidents of April 22. He said Joshi was in a depressed state since he had lost his job with Ankleshwar Petrofils, and, after an argument over money matters, tried to stab him in the arm. After that, Patel said, he asked Joshi to leave.

The family of Vikas Joshi have brought him back to the city from his aunts house in Madhya Pradesh, a fortnight after he went missing. PSI Gohil of the Umra police station told Express Newsline that three days ago, Joshi called up his in-laws' place in Adajan, where his wife was staying, and told them he was at his aunt's place in Madhya Pradesh.

The family rushed there and brought Joshi back to Surat, Gohil said.

He add that he had probably ``run away'' to Madhya Pradesh to escape being arrested for the assault on Patel. Unconfirmed reports said Joshi had been taken to Ahmedabad for treatment for depression.

Though a non-cognisable offence had been lodged on the disappearance, no official complaint was lodged, the police said, adding that the case was now closed.