Kidnap fear as Wolverhampton businessman vanishes in India

Ranjit Singh Power has not been heard from since he landed for a business trip in India on May 7.

Mr Power owns the Grade-II listed Ramada Park Hall Hotel on Park Drive, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton.

The 54-year-old family man, who grew up in Tettenhall and still lives in the area, has now been placed on West Midlands Police's Missing Persons list and the Foreign Office is investigating.

His heartbroken children and partner have launched a desperate appeal for information but said it is highly unusual for him not to get in touch and their darkest fears are that he has been kidnapped or killed.

Mr Power flew out from Birmingham Airport on May 7. He arrived at Amritsar Airport in Punjab later that day and spoke to his partner then but no one has seen or heard from him since. He had been due to return on May 14.

His partner, Angela Bir, who runs the Ramada Park Hall Hotel with him, said she was extremely concerned about his welfare.

And his daughter, Emma, aged 26, said she and her brother Gian were inconsolable.

"We are getting more and more distraught about our father," Emma told the Express & Star.

"As a last resort we are contacting the media in the hope he can be found safe. There is nothing else we can do.

"Our strongest fears are that he may have been kidnapped or, dread to think of it, even worse. We have not heard from him at all.

"These are our fears because our father is a very strong man and he would contact England two or three times a day if not more. He is constantly on the telephone.

"He's been in and out of the country as long as I have been a small girl and we know his traits.

"He is a very careful man and has always been aware of his security and, with him being quite a wealthy gentleman, security and safety has always been paramount to him."

Emma appealed to anyone with information about her father's whereabouts to get in touch. "We've exhausted every avenue which there is to go by," she said. "This really is our last resort and the last thing we wanted but not to hear from him for this long is not my father.

"We are understandably distraught and are doing everything we can to ensure our father's safety.

"If anyone has any information which can help us please contact the police as soon as possible."

Mr Power and partners bought the Ramada Park Hall Hotel out of administration four years ago from its previous owners.

He previously owned the Connaught Hotel on Tettenhall Road before selling it in 2004.

The Foreign Office are aware of his disappearance and are working with the family to help locate him. Foreign Office spokeswoman Georgina Barker said: "A British national was reported missing in India on May 14.

"We are providing consular assistance to the family and liaising closely with local authorities."

West Midlands Police spokesman confirmed Mr Power was on the Missing Persons list and urged anyone with information to call 101.

His partner, Angela said she spoke to him on the day he landed in India and he sounded fine.

"I'm very concerned about him," they said.

"I'm trying to find his whereabouts – we believe that police over there may be narrowing their search. He rang me when he arrived and he was totally happy. We just want to know what's happened."

Emma added that the family was desperate for information about their beloved father.

She said: "There is a full investigation under way to try and find out what's going on.

"We're just desperate for any information and would appeal for anyone who can help to get in touch."

The hotel was originally a mansion built in the 1750s. It was converted to a hotel in 1981 and became the Ramada Hotel and Spa in 2011 when it underwent a £1.2 million refurbishment.