Missing Youth Congress leader found

A day after he was reported missing from his room at a hotel in Uttar Pradesh, Youth Congress leader Nishant Patel was found in Mohan near Lucknow on Tuesday.

Son of the former Gujarat minister, Hasmukh Patel, Mr. Nishant Patel is the returning officer of the Misrikh Lok Sabha constituency in the ongoing organisational elections of the Youth Congress in the State. He is a member of the core committee formed by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi for the polls.

Mr. Nishant Patel had asked for a lift in the car driven by one Ram Prakash on Mohan Road. Knowing his identity, Mr. Prakash informed the police who took Mr. Patel to the Trauma Centre of the Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University in Lucknow. According to a police official, Mr. Patel appeared disoriented, which was why he was admitted to the Trauma Centre.

Mr. Hasmukh Patel reached Lucknow from Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

Police are investigating all possible aspects of the case. The manager of the Utsav Hotel, where Mr. Nishant Patel was staying, and some other staff members were questioned by the Hardoi police. A local Youth Congress leader was also interrogated.

According to sources in the Youth Congress, Mr. Patel discussed the elections with his colleagues at the hotel room till late on Sunday night. However, when his room was opened around 7 a.m. on Monday, he was not found. Sources, quoting the security guard of the hotel, said Mr. Patel was seen boarding a rickshaw and when he did not return to the hotel, he was reported missing.

Mr. Nishant Patel was later taken to the SSP office for questioning.