Cops register abduction case over Budhia disappearance

Bhubaneswar: A day after Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Khurda, asked commisionerate police to trace prodigal marathon runner Budhia Singh, Nayapalli police today registered a case of abduction regarding the disappearance of the wonder boy.

The case has been registered under section 363 of Indian Penal Code (Kidnapping), sources said. A police team has also quizzed Budhia’s sister at Salia Sahi slum here in this connection.

There is a buzz in sports circles that Budhia has left for Mumbai to promote "Budhia Singh: Born to run", a movie based on his struggles. The CWC on Saturday served notice to movie producer Subhamitra Sen and asked him to inforn whether Budhia is with him.

“We have served a notice to the producer asking if Budhia is with him. If yes, under what circumstances and with whose permission the producer took the boy to Mumbai?”CWC member Benudhar Senapati had told reporters on Saturday.

The film producer’s role came under the scanner after the director of the movie Soumendra Padhy sent an SMS to OTV saying Budhia is on leave and will be back by July 27.

The children's welfare body on Thursday had sought a report from the Odisha government on the whereabouts of the wonder boy, who is reportedly missing for over a month. The CWC had asked the Bhubaneswar sports hostel in-charge to inform what steps the authorities have taken to locate Budhia Singh.

Budhia Singh , who went to his mother Sukanti Singh's house at Salia Sahi in the city slum on May 10 for summer vacation, did not return when the hostel reopened on June 4. Budhia also skipped classes in the DAV School, Chandrasekharpur, where he was a student.

While the sports hostel has no information on the whereabouts of Budhia Singh, the boy has taken leave from the school authorities till July 27, officials said.

Oon July 8, sports and youth service secretary Saswat Mishra had said the boy will return within four days. But he is yet to be traced.