Missing Noida software engr’s dad seeks FIR against guide

Bageshwar: The case of Noida-based software engineer Abhishek Chauhan (36), who went missing on May 29 during a trek to Pindari Glacier, took a new turn after his father, a Border Security Force (BSF) inspector, filed a complaint seeking registration of an FIR and the arrest of the local guide, alleging inconsistencies in the account of events leading up to his son’s disappearance.

In a complaint submitted at Kapkot police station late on Sunday night, Abhishek’s father, Raghuraj Chauhan, questioned the version provided by local guide Anand Ram, who accompanied the software engineer on the trek. According to the guide, the two were descending from Dwali towards Khati when Abhishek allegedly asked him to move ahead and prepare food while he stayed back to take photographs near the Maliyadhur area. The trekker disappeared shortly afterwards.

Raghuraj described the explanation as “questionable”, arguing that “no professional guide would leave a tourist unattended in remote and hazardous Himalayan terrain”. “Several aspects of the guide’s statement did not add up and warranted a thorough criminal investigation,” he alleged.

The family has sought an investigation into the guide’s movements after the disappearance. They alleged that he was seen heading alone towards the Maliyadhur area on June 4 despite no official rescue team operating in that sector that day. They also sought scrutiny of a local homestay operator and demanded examination of the guide’s call detail records, mobile phone location data and other electronic evidence to establish a clearer timeline of events.

Abhishek’s relatives also raised concerns about the condition and location of his camera, which was recovered during the search. While investigators suspect the trekker may have fallen into a gorge, they questioned “how the camera remained largely intact despite the steep terrain, sustaining only minor damage”. They further pointed to the recovery of the camera’s lens cap nearly 500m from the alleged accident site, while the camera itself was found around 80m below a cliff, saying “the discrepancy raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

Further suspicion, the family said, stemmed from the last video recordings recovered from the camera. According to them, footage recorded between 2:27 pm and 2:29 pm on the day of the disappearance showed the guide walking ahead, while the final clip captured two dry trees. They claimed “there was nothing particularly noteworthy in the visuals to explain why an experienced trekker would stop for photography at that spot.”

The family also disputed the guide’s claim that he had handed over his heavy backpack to Abhishek during the trek, saying it was “unusual for an experienced trekker to carry a guide’s bag, as guides are generally expected to assist trekkers and manage their own equipment.”

Circle officer Ajay Shah told TOI, “The family’s complaint has been received and the allegations against the guide are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.”

Abhishek went missing while returning from the trek and remains untraceable despite a 10-day search operation involving police, SDRF, NDRF, forest officials and local volunteers. Authorities said search efforts had been intensified. Teams combed nearly 25km of the trekking route and stretches along the Pindar river, while drones were deployed to scan inaccessible cliffs, forests and gorges.

SP Jitendra Mehra said, “Seven teams comprising around 30 personnel are engaged in the search operation and efforts will continue until a definitive breakthrough is achieved.”