Cops clueless 80 days after lawyer, wife went missing

Nagpur: Advocate Bhaiyyasaheb Dhawad, 62, and his wife Vanita, 53, have now been untraceable for 80 days. The cops initially thought it was a simple case of domestic feud leading to the couple leaving the house. Now, cops are beginning to assume the worst for the couple last seen in their apartment at Laxmiprayag Apartment at Wanjari Nagar on July 28.
A delegation of lawyers, including District Government Pleader (DGP) Nitin Telgote, is set to meet city police chief BK Upadhyay to demand an in-depth probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or State Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Dhawad was a known lawyer, who helped many victims get compensation from Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Tribunal, while Vanita was a housewife. The couple had left home without any cash, mobile phones, ATM cards, and even medicines.

Their only son Mrunal’s initial reaction after his parents went missing is raising doubts now. He last saw his parents on July 28 at 10pm while retiring to bed. He lodged a missing complaint only on August 2, though he realized his parents were not at home when he got up at 4am on July 29.

Mrunal, who works with a cooperative bank at Washim, got married in February. His wife had left the family home after a tiff with Vanita on July 24, said police. This was assumed to be the trigger for the well-settled couple to leave their home.

However, police now feel there could be more to it. Ajni police station PI Shailesh Sankhe said they would have heard something by now if the couple had been safe. “We cannot rule out the couple meeting an unpleasant fate. It is unlikely the parents left like this over a routine argument,” he said.

The neighbours did not know the couple was missing until cops started asking questions. Mrunal did not ask any of them about his parents in the 72 hours before he filed a missing complaint. “We only know the couple was last seen by a neighbour at 2pm on July 28,” said a neighbour. Another neighbour said Mrunal had even expressed displeasure when they spoke to police and media about his parents.

PI Sankhe said 1,500 posters with photos of the Dhawad couple have been printed. “We have already contacted neighbouring districts and states, even through the media. Now, we are focusing on railways,” he said.

“We have also questioned Mrunal on various aspects. Business rivalries and such issues are now being probed,” said Sankhe.