Five days after a 31-year-old Special Protection Group (SPG) commando, who had mysteriously gone missing from the SPG headquarters in lutyen’s Delhi, was spotted roaming in the same area on Wednesday morning.
Senior Delhi Police officials questioned the commando about his disappearance. Intelligence agencies have also been roped in.
Rakesh Kumar Verma, a Special Protection Group (SPG) Commando, deployed for protection of Congress president Sonia Gandhi had gone missing on September 3.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) New Delhi district, BK Singh said, “On Wednesday around 3.30 pm near Tilak Marg, Rakesh was found. He stated that because of financial problems he was in tension and hence did not go home on September 1 after he was dropped at Udyog Bhawan Metro Station. He kept on moving in New Delhi and slept in parks. He was medically examined and handed over to his family.
Sources said the commando was from Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) and was sent on deputation to the SPG. On the day he went missing, he claimed that he was reprimanded by a senior official when he asked for leaves.
Meanwhile, police said Rakesh was depressed due to financial problems in his family. Police said on September 1, Rakesh, who had joined the elite SPG force, was on leave yet he reported to work.
After not having heard from him over 48 hours since September 1, Rakesh’s family reported the matter to the senior authorities posted at Congress chief’s house on September 3. Following which hunt was launched to trace him. Police said as per the statement given by Rakesh’s father, he was living with his family in a rented flat in Sector 8 of Dwarka area.
As per an initial police investigation, Rakesh had reported to duty on September 1 and even met his colleagues deployed at Sonia’s residence. He left the premises at around 11 am and was not carrying his service revolver. Police have also said the SPG was not even carrying his mobile phone and thus no contact could be made with him afterward.
When asked by police, his family ruled out any enmity or feud with anyone.
SPG commando security is given to the Prime Minister, former PM and members of their immediate families under the 1988 act of Parliament. Usually, an SPG commando carries some of the most sophisticated weapons including FN Herstal (assault rifle), Glock Pistol and FN Herstal (P90) and is drawn from Central Armed Police Forces & Railway Protection Force.