THE family of a missing Burwood East man are pleading for anyone who may have seen him since last Wednesday to come forward.

Tej Chitnis, 21, hasn’t been seen or heard from since just after 10am on April 27.

Tej left his family’s Burwood East home to go into the city, but failed to return home that evening for an important family dinner celebrating his father’s birthday and older brother’s going away party.

Tej, a keen basketball fan who recently finished a health science degree at Deakin University, usually drives to Blackburn Station in his silver 2005 VW Golf with the registration plate TTF 517, however a sweep of the surrounding roads has found no trace of his car, and his bank card hasn’t been used since he went missing.

Tej’s mother Reva Chitnis said his disappearance was not like him.

“We searched the streets around the station about a 100 times for his car, and we’ve done letter drops as well in case someone saw him, but so far we haven’t heard anything.

“Police are still concerned they haven’t found his car yet — apparently it’s quite unusual for the car to not have been seen for this long.

“Someone must have seen him or his car on Wednesday — they must have — so if you have please contact the police.”

media_camera Tej Chitnis, 21, from Burwood East, hasn't been heard from since last Wednesday morning.

Signal data last placed Tej’s phone in the Healesville area at just after 11:30am on Wednesday morning and his family have since been searching for him the Yarra Valley region.

“His Vodafone records show his mobile phone was switched off at 11:26am, but we found out on Saturday there was a ping from his phone near Healesville at 11:49am so we’re looking around there now,” Ms Chitnis said.

“We have about 60 or 70 people out putting up posters in Yarra Junction, Warburton, Healesville, Eildon, Yea — everywhere we can,” Ms Chitnis said.

Senior Sergeant Mick Jones from the Forest Hill Police Station said police were eager to speak to anyone who may have seen Tej.

“We have concerns for Tej’s wellbeing as his disappearance is completely out of character for him,” Snr Sgt Jones said.

“Our latest information is that his phone was last in the eastern Melbourne area around Healesville.

“We’re extremely keen to locate his silver VW Golf, so anyone who has seen it should contact police immediately.,” he said.

Ms Chitnis pleaded for her son to make contact as soon as he was able to.

“We’re all so worried about Tej, we haven’t slept,” Ms Chitnis said.

‘We’re not sure if he’s run away or not, but if he has he needs to know we love him and we want him to be safe.

“If he needs some space — that’s OK, but please just let us know you’re safe, Tej.”

Anyone who has seen Tej or has any information is urged to contact the Forest Hill Police Station on 8847 3600 or call 000.