Senior Reporter
shane.superville@guardian.co.tt
More than a year after he survived a kidnapping ordeal, Chaguanas teacher and financial consultant Komal Maharaj has again been reported missing.
Police said Maharaj’s wife reported that he left for work at around 6.40 am on Friday, after telling her that he was going to the Aranguez Hindu School to teach music lessons that afternoon.
She received a message from him via WhatsApp at around 1.07 pm that day, when he asked her what she ate, but received no reply to her response messages.
Maharaj’s wife further reported that despite attempts to reach him via messages and phone calls were unsuccessful, as messages have gone unread.
Police said camera footage at around 3.30 pm that day showed Maharaj walking through the front gate of their Lyle-Lane Street, Felicity home and walking to a savannah wearing a pair of blue jeans, a black long-sleeved sweater with zipper and a pair of gunglasses.
The footage had a time stamp of 1.31 pm.
Police reported that further information from someone in the area revealed that Maharaj was seen sitting a bench in the savannah and appeared to be “worried,” as he was on the phone. He was later seen getting into a silver Nissan Wingroad with a black bonnet with a silver ‘For Sale’ sign on the upper left side of the windshield.
Guardian Media visited the family’s home yesterday and spoke with a relative who said they were “co-operating fully with the police,” but had received no updates on Maharaj’s whereabouts or condition.
The relatives said they were hoping Maharaj would be found safely and urged the public and media outlets to respect their privacy while reporting facts accurately.
Also contacted for comment yesterday, Chaguanas Mayor Faaiq Mohammed described Maharaj’s disappearance as “sad and concerning,” noting that while a police investigation was underway, it was frightening for many residents.
“The disappearance of Mr Komal Maharaj, a dedicated teacher from our community, is deeply troubling and has left many residents anxious and unsettled,” he said.
“I have previously spoken out against kidnappings and other serious crimes in Chaguanas, because every life disrupted in this way creates ripples of fear and trauma that affect families and the wider community. We cannot allow such incidents to become normalised.”
Mohammed, who has been outspoken against instances of kidnapping, home invasions and extortion in Chaguanas, also urged the general public to assist the police by sharing any information they had on Maharaj’s disappearance.
“If you have any information that could help in locating Mr Maharaj, please come forward immediately. No detail is too small, and your cooperation could make the difference in ensuring his safe return.”
Sources said officers of the Central Division, including the Chaguanas CID, were working with the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) and the police Cyber and Social Media Unit to find Maharaj.
One officer who asked not to be named said while the current enquiry is not considered to be a kidnapping just yet, the AKU was required to assist with any missing persons investigations.
“This phase of the enquiry usually involves trying to review and eliminate the relatively innocent reasons a person may be considered missing, like staying overnight at a friend’s house or their battery dying and not being able to communicate with loved ones,” the officer said.
“Once this has been ruled out, other possibilities can be considered, including kidnapping, and if a body is found, well, then the enquiry would progress to a homicide investigation.”
The officer also noted that the Cyber and Social Media Unit will be working closely to assist with the investigation in the early part. However, if a kidnapping was found to have occurred, it may also involve the assistance of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) or the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
Last year, Maharaj went missing on July 19 and spent 14 days in captivity before being reunited with his family on August 2.
Several details behind his disappearance last year were unverified. However, police said Maharaj left his home to go to a Scotiabank ATM at Price Plaza, Chaguanas.
He reportedly contacted his wife and told her he would be meeting someone but did not say who it was and that he would be home later.
After calls and messages to his home went unanswered, the family released a statement confirming he was being held in Venezuela. His family further reported at the time that he was able to speak with his wife under the supervision of his captors. The statement reported that a sum of money was paid in exchange for his safe return.
It was later reported that Maharaj was dropped off at sea close to Trinidad’s southwestern edge and swam to shore, but this detail was unverified by police.
