By CASEY NEILL
A DANDENONG South bakery was the last stop delivery driver Shiva Chauhan reached before disappearing two years ago.
Missing Persons Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Rhodes said the 27-year-old hadn’t been heard from since 2 May 2014 and urged anyone with information to come forward.
“We’ve had no leads whatsoever so we’re appealing for public help,” he said.
He’s particularly looking for a stolen maroon 2006 Toyota Camry sedan with registration plates ULO-972.
“The vehicle was owned by an associate of Shiva at that time and that vehicle is still outstanding,” he said.
Mr Chauhan was seen at South Park Road bakery about 12.30am after starting his delivery route the previous evening.
His delivery van was found on Hutton Road, Keysborough, about 3pm.
Det Sen Sgt Rhodes said it was locked, all his personal belongings were inside and there was no sign of any force.
“That tends to make us suggest … that whoever intercepted Shiva on that morning was in fact known to him at the time,” he said.
“There’s a number of people that are persons of interest, as well as a number of his associates.
“We can call it friends, we can call it persons of interest, but they are the people that we are seeking assistance from in relation to this matter.”
Detectives believe Mr Chauhan might have been taken to Phillip Island in the early hours of 2 May, and unsuccessfully searched Flynn’s Beach on 3 February last year after receiving that information.
“The last time that Shiva was around was down in the Phillip Island area some time after he went missing,” Det Sen Sgt Rhodes said.
“In two years he has not accessed any of his bank accounts, used his mobile phone, and has basically disappeared from the face of the earth.
“We’ve been able to come up with no motive at all.
“Shiva was a well-respected person. He had plenty of friends. He was well-liked.
“He had a girlfriend that he’d had for approximately four years and they were planning to marry in the not-too-distant future.”
Mr Chauhan is Indian and about 177 centimetres tall with a slim build and straight, dark-coloured hair.
Det Sen Sgt Rhodes wants to hear from anyone who saw Mr Chauhan’s delivery van or the maroon sedan in the Dandenong, Keysborough or Phillip Island areas on the day he disappeared, or with information about his whereabouts.
Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
