Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 17: Ending days of uneasy speculation in the state about the mysterious “disappearance” of young marathoner Budhia Singh, the commissionerate police Sunday said he and his mother are currently holidaying in Tamil Nadu and that they are safe.
Twin-city Police Commissioner Yogesh Bahadur Khurania said 14-year-old Budhia’s mother, Sukanti, said the marathoner was not kidnapped and that the duo is currently in Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu.
“Budhia and his mother, Sukanti, are safe. I spoke to Sukanti over the phone and she said they are out on a holiday trip and will return to Orissa by July 25. Sukanti said they went to Bangalore, Mysore and Ooty, and that now they are in Kodaikanal,” said Khurania.
“Sukanti said no one has kidnapped Budhia, nor was he missing. They had decided to go on the holiday trip on their own will. I asked them whether they need any assistance, and Sukanti said they are fine,” added Khurania.
However, the police commissioner said Sukanti, when she returns, would be asked the “precise reason” of taking Budhia on the holiday trip without informing the authorities of the sports hostel where he had been staying and receiving training.
“Police will also investigate whether Budhia and his mother went to several places in connection with the promotion of Viacom Motion Pictures’ upcoming Manoj Vajpayee-starrer film Budhia Singh Born to Run,” said a source in the commissionerate police.
While sources close to Budhia said he is also scheduled to leave for Mumbai, it was unclear when he would go. The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) had Saturday lodged a missing complaint about Budhia, whose family stays in Salia Sahi in the state capital, with Nayapalli police as the boy did not return to the hostel run by Sports Authority of India (SAI) after the summer vacation ended.
Budhia, who was admitted to the sports hostel by the state government in 2007, had left for home May 10 and was supposed to join the hostel June 7. However, the wunderkind runner failed to return to his hostel June 7. In the past, Budhia had expressed his displeasure over the facilities provided to athletes at the sports hostel.
Meanwhile, Nayapalli police have registered a case (230/16) with regard to Budhia’s alleged missing.
