Ranchi: The disappearance case of 18-year-old Pushpa Kumari from Jharkhand’s Bokaro district took a crucial turn on Thursday after the Jharkhand High Court was informed that DNA extracted from a tooth of the recovered skeletal remains matched Pushpa’s DNA profile, according to a report submitted by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Kolkata.
However, the court was also informed that a complete DNA match of the entire skeleton with samples from Pushpa’s parents has not yet been established.
Pushpa, a resident of the Pindrajora police station area in Bokaro, went missing on July 31, 2025. After months without any breakthrough, her mother, Rekha Devi, moved the Jharkhand High Court by filing a habeas corpus petition seeking her daughter’s whereabouts.
During the investigation, police arrested Dinesh Kumar Mahto based on technical evidence and interrogation. Investigators claim that the accused confessed to killing Pushpa and led them to the location where a human skeleton was recovered.
Pushpa’s family, however, has consistently disputed the police’s claim, insisting that the recovered remains do not belong to her. Following the family’s objections, the High Court had directed that DNA samples from the skeleton and Pushpa’s family be examined by the CFSL in Kolkata.
The forensic findings were presented before the High Court on Thursday in the presence of members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Taking note of the latest developments, the High Court sought details of the proceedings pending before the trial court. It also asked the Jharkhand government to submit a report on the action taken against police personnel allegedly found negligent during the investigation.
The court further directed the police to complete the inquest (panchnama) of the recovered skeleton and all other pending legal formalities.
Despite the latest forensic findings, Pushpa’s family has refused to accept that the recovered skeleton is hers.
The High Court observed that all further action in the case must be based strictly on scientific evidence and legal procedures. The matter will come up for further hearing on a later date.
With inputs from IANS