A bizarre incident unfolded in Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, where a man’s disappearance near the Gangrel Dam led to a 12-day search operation. Initially, authorities believed Hemant Chandravanshi had drowned after his clothes and slippers were found. However, the truth emerged when police tracked him down in Delhi, revealing a carefully crafted deception.
The investigation indicated that financial strain, specifically mounting debt, drove Chandravanshi to stage his own demise. The events began on May 24 when Chandravanshi, a resident of Kawardha, arrived in Dhamtari with companions. They stayed at a resort near the Gangrel Dam.
The following day, as Chandravanshi and his friends prepared to swim, he sent them to a nearby shop for supplies. Upon their return, Chandravanshi was nowhere to be found, only his belongings remained. His friends alerted the Rudri police, who initiated a search, initially focusing on the possibility of drowning.
Despite extensive efforts, the search yielded no results, prompting police to consider the possibility of a staged disappearance. They subsequently questioned Chandravanshi’s family and discovered a second phone number. Tracking this number led them to Delhi, where they apprehended him.
ASP Manishankar Chandra confirmed that Chandravanshi was heavily in debt and used the situation to fake his death. He abandoned his belongings at the dam and fled through the forest. Legal proceedings will follow due to the seriousness of his actions.