Chandigarh — Maldivian authorities late last night called off the search for celebrated Indian rally driver Hari Singh after nearly eight days of fruitless operations following a speedboat accident near Felidhoo island on March 19. Singh, nicknamed the “Gypsy King,” was one of seven people aboard a high-performance speedboat that capsized in choppy seas; local reports say the vessel overturned at about 1:15 am (local time).
The multiagency search, which also sought decorated sailor and former naval officer Commander Mahesh Ramachandran, was extended well beyond the usual 72-hour window. Maldivian teams used drones, light aircraft and coordinated surface crews, and India provided a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft and an advanced light helicopter to assist. Sea search-and-rescue responsibilities were shared between the two countries throughout the operation.
SPS Gharcha, president of the Chandigarh Motorsport Association and a close associate of Hari Singh, said the teams found no trace. “No headway, not even a single hint, the operation has been called off late last night. His friends, who were involved in the operation, will be back to India now. It’s strange, not even a single thing attached to Hari was found,” he said.
In Chandigarh, Singh’s family announced a Bhog ceremony in his memory on March 30 at Gurdwara Sahib Patshahi Dasvin in Sector 8.
Hari Singh was one of India’s most prominent rally drivers, known as the Gypsy King after his successes in the 1990s. He won five Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) titles and claimed the inaugural Asia Zone Rally Championship, becoming among the first Indian drivers to earn recognition on the international stage. After retiring from competition, he served as Head of Operations at JK Tyre Motorsport and worked as Chief Instructor for Mercedes‑Benz India, shaping the next generation of Indian motorsport talent.
