In a heartfelt gesture, Dubai-based real estate developer Kalpesh Kinariwala has announced a Dh25,000 reward for any credible information leading to the whereabouts of Rakesh Kumar Jangid, a 39-year-old Indian man who has been missing in the UAE for over two years. Kinariwala, the founder and chairman of Pantheon Developers, was moved to act after reading a recent report in Khaleej Times detailing the family’s ongoing struggle to find Rakesh.
Kinariwala, who lost his father at a young age, expressed deep empathy for the family’s plight. “I know what it means for a family to suddenly lose the person they depend on,” he said. “If this gesture can bring even a small ray of hope to his children or help trace Rakesh, it’s the least we can do as a community.”
The businessman has coordinated with local authorities and the Consulate General of India in Dubai to ensure the reward aligns with ongoing investigative efforts. He emphasized that any credible lead received through the reward will be promptly forwarded to the authorities. The Dh25,000 reward will be given to anyone who provides verifiable information that helps locate Rakesh.
Rakesh, a marble installer from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, arrived in Dubai on June 21, 2023, on a 60-day tourist visa, hoping to secure a job. He maintained regular contact with his family for two weeks, but his last call on July 6, 2023, described a distressing incident at a construction site in Jebel Ali. Since then, his family has been unable to reach him.
The family’s search has been fraught with challenges. Rakesh’s elder brother, Makhan Lal, traveled to Dubai in March 2024 after receiving a vague voice note from the agent who arranged Rakesh’s job, claiming he was in jail. Despite extensive searches in hospitals, detention centers, and construction sites, no trace of Rakesh was found.
The family has endured multiple tragedies since Rakesh’s disappearance, including the loss of another brother in a train accident and the sudden death of their youngest brother. The reward announcement has brought a glimmer of hope to the family, who remain desperate for answers. “We just want to know what happened to Rakesh,” Makhan said. “Our parents are getting older. His children ask about him every day.”