Mumbai: Top city caterer missing after booking bonanza

More than 30 couples and their families have been left high and dry as renowned wedding caterer Hitesh Rathod 50 went missing on Monday Rathod supposedly left behind a note for his staff stating that he was taking a big step and informing the families who had booked his services that he was in debt The staff rushed to Kandivli police station to register a missing person complaint after reading the message but it was registered a day laterThe businessrsquos logo displayed inside the officeRathod a resident of Kashimira Mira Road had been running Yash Caterers for the past 25 years at Mahavir Nagar in Kandivli West A month before his disappearance he arranged a free foodtesting event Food Mania at Borivli and received about 40 marriage bookings as a result Yash Caterers is associated with establishments such as Tulip Star and othersThe note written in the Hindi language states ldquoDate 11122023My dear Staffyou guys supported me but I am going now Sorry and forgive me Do not try to find me I took many loans and I am in debt and I am not able to handle it now Inform all the people who booked our services and paid us in advance I am taking a big step in my life People called me a hundred times and I cannot handle this I am depressedrdquo Rathod wrote the message around noon and left his office on the ground floor of the Veena Santoor building near Sachin Gymkhana leaving behind his mobile phoneThe note left behind by Rathod on MondaylsquoCops told me to waitrsquoThe manager of Yash Caterers Altaf Khan rushed to the Kandivli police station immediately after he found the note ldquoI took the note along but the police refused to register a missing person complaint I told the cops that my bossrsquos life was in danger and to save him but they told me that they would register the complaint after 24 hours of his disappearance as this is the rulerdquo The note eventually went viral on social media and about 6070 people rushed to the catererrsquos office raising concerns about their sons and daughtersrsquo wedding preparationsWorried customersA 55yearold Kandivli resident whose daughterrsquos is to be married soon told midday ldquoI have paid R10 lakh to Hitesh Rathod and his employee Sneha My daughterrsquos wedding is to be held on December 14 and I have used up my life savings on it The employee is now denying that they will not cater my daughterrsquos wedding and that they will not repay my money I am very worried and am taking help from my friend financially I will also inform the police and register an FIRrdquo Another customer said ldquoI run a decoration business and I also worked for Rathod He owes me R65 lakh I complained to the Kandivli police about this and gave a letter seeking the registration of an FIR against RathodrdquoThe office of Yash Caterers at Mahavir Nagar in Kandivli WestDistressed daughterBisha Rathodrsquos daughter told midday ldquoMy parents separated two months ago From the note left behind by my father it seems like his life is under threat and I am worried for him I have been looking for my father since Monday afternoon and contacted hundreds of people but they had no information about him I also informed the police but they registered our missing complaint on Tuesday The police should help me to find my fatherrdquoShe added ldquoSince Monday more than 100 people potential customers have visited the Yash Caterers office I have been telling them that I am not in this business but I am searching for my father Many people also threatened my mother and me after my father went missing My father is not a cheater but he is depressed I am praying that my father will come home soonrdquo Rathod was residing with Bisha before his disappearanceCop SpeakSenior Inspector Sandeep Vishwasrao of Kandivli police station said ldquoWe have registered the missing person complaint and started investigating the matter We are searching for Hitesh Rathod and will find him soonrdquo12 NoonTime on Monday when Rathod wrote note