Mystery Deepens In Sinhagad Missing Case: CCTV Shows Youth Running, Police Probe New Twist
Mystery Deepens In Sinhagad Missing Case: CCTV Shows Youth Running, Police Probe New Twist
Pune, August 22, 2025: The search for 24-year-old Gautam Gaikwad, who went missing from Sinhagad Fort two days ago, has taken a new turn after CCTV footage suggested he might have been seen running and hiding near the base of the fort.
Gautam, a resident of Satara, had come to Sinhagad with five friends from Hyderabad for a trip. According to his friends, he slipped from the Tanhaji cliff and fell into a deep gorge during heavy rains and strong winds. Since then, Pune Rural Police, Haveli Police, and disaster management teams have been conducting an extensive search, including rappelling nearly 1,000 feet into the valley.
However, new CCTV footage has added complexity to the case. A man resembling Gautam was allegedly seen running and trying to hide near the foothills. This has led investigators to suspect that the incident might not have been an accidental fall.
Police officials said, “If the person in the CCTV is indeed Gautam, it raises doubts about the initial version of events. We are now exploring all possibilities.”
The youth’s footwear was earlier recovered near the cliff, but no other trace has been found. Search operations were suspended late at night due to poor visibility and resumed at 6 am today.
Authorities continue to treat the case as a high-priority investigation, with police teams examining all angles, including whether Gautam may have staged his disappearance.
