Bengaluru, Aug 11 — The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Bengaluru-based techie Advait Upadhyaya has deepened, with police uncovering several details about his movements, digital searches and personal life as the search operation at Shivagange continued on Tuesday.
Police teams from Kadugodi and Nelamangala, along with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire and emergency personnel and other teams, continued searching the difficult terrain of Shivagange Hill and its surrounding areas. Drones and other equipment are being used to scan inaccessible portions of the hill as investigators try to establish what happened to the techie.
Upadhyaya, a native of Indore in Madhya Pradesh and a resident of Kadugodi in Bengaluru, went missing after visiting Shivagange for trekking. He had reportedly taken a mobile phone and a drone camera with him. However, police probe has found that the mobile phone and drone were at the Shantala Drop area, while Upadhyaya went missing.
Investigators suspect that another person may have taken the mobile phone from the spot, as it was on for some time before switching off. Police are examining this aspect and also trying to establish whether anyone else was present in the area when Upadhyaya disappeared.
The investigation has also revealed details from his laptop. Police recovered the laptop from his residence and found that it had been used to search for Shivagange Hill, including information about the hill height, how to reach Shantala Drop and how to climb the area.
Investigators are also examining whether Upadhyaya may have been researching the consequences of falling from the hill. Police sources said searches using an AI tool allegedly included queries about how long a person might survive after falling from the hill and the consequences of such a fall.
These findings have led police to explore the possibility that Upadhyaya may have planned to take his own life. However, police have not reached any definitive conclusion and are continuing to investigate all possible angles.
Another aspect being examined is his personal life. According to his call detail records (CDR), Upadhyaya was in contact with several young women and had exchanged messages with them. Police have also learnt that he had a girlfriend despite being engaged to another woman.
Investigators are examining whether he was reluctant to marry the woman to whom he was engaged and whether this could have played any role in his disappearance. The woman he was engaged to had reportedly made repeated calls to him after he became unreachable.
Police are also investigating whether Upadhyaya, who was considered highly talented in the technology field, had any involvement in hacking or other activities related to cybersecurity. His digital devices and communication records are being scrutinised as part of the probe.
Police suspect that Upadhyaya may have reached Shivagange earlier than initially believed. His digital searches and other evidence are being examined to establish whether he visited the hill on August 4, ahead of his reported trekking trip on August 7.
On August 7, he reportedly began trekking and sent a photograph to the woman to whom he was engaged. He subsequently stopped responding to calls.
Police have also obtained a photograph of Upadhyaya taken by another tourist while he was reportedly at the hilltop. Investigators are examining the photograph and other technical evidence to trace his movements.
Since there has been no confirmed sighting of Upadhyaya in the areas around Shivagange village, police are also examining CCTV footage from the surrounding areas to determine his route before and after he reached the hill.
The Shantala Drop area remains one of the key locations in the investigation. The spot is known for its steep and difficult terrain, making the search particularly challenging. Teams are examining narrow and deep sections of the hill where Upadhyaya could potentially have fallen or become trapped.
The search operation is being led by Nelamangala Town Circle Inspector Bharat Gowda, with police, SDRF personnel and others participating.
While the evidence recovered so far has raised several questions about Upadhyaya's disappearance, police have not confirmed that he has died. Investigators are continuing to examine the possibility of an accident, suicide, as well as other circumstances, while simultaneously analysing his digital records and CCTV footage.