Mumbai: ‘Runaway caterer is roaming freely’

Hitesh Rathod, the absconding owner of Yash

Renowned caterer Hitesh Rathod, who failed to provide his services despite accepting bookings worth lakhs, has been freely roaming in the city without any fear of arrest for the past 50 days. Rathod, who left a note for his staff on December 11 stating his inability to repay debts, has been in contact with relatives, families, and friends since December 13. However, the police have been unable to trace him despite his interactions with various individuals.

Sources informed mid-day that on Tuesday, Rathod was spotted in Mahavir Nagar in Kandivli West, driving a car belonging to a relative; he also met another caterer. The missing caterer has been actively changing SIM cards and locations, making it difficult for the authorities to apprehend him. Families of brides and grooms who booked catering services with Rathod are regularly visiting Kandivli police for updates on his whereabouts. Unfortunately, the police only respond that Rathod is untraceable.

A caterer from Kandivli West revealed to mid-day, "On Tuesday, Rathod was seen in Mahavir Nagar, driving alone in a relative's car. He met another caterer, and they spent more than two hours together in the car. Rathod owes him Rs 20 lakh, he even offered to provide utensils stored in a warehouse in Kandivli." A distressed bride, who paid Rs 30 lakh for Rathod's services, said, "My father took a loan of Rs 30 lakh from relatives, and we are repaying them. Rathod disappeared with the money twenty days before my wedding. We hoped that the police would trace him and recover our money, but they failed to do so."

Another victim, a groom from Kandivli, said, "I paid Rs 39 lakh to Rathod. I feel hopeless now and cannot trust the police. Rathod has been seen multiple times in Mumbai, particularly in the Mahavir Nagar area, but the police seem uninterested in arresting him. Despite the high court rejecting Rathod's bail application and instructing the police to arrest him, they are not taking any action."

PSI Deepak Patil, the investigation officer at Kandivli police station, said, "Rathod is untraceable, and we are seeking the assistance of the crime branch to apprehend him. He frequently changes SIM cards, phones, and his location, making it challenging for us to locate the accused. We are making every effort to capture him."