Ranchi — The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday pulled up state police for their handling of a missing 18-year-old girl’s case from Bokaro, expressing serious concern over delays and lack of progress.
Hearing a habeas corpus plea filed by the girl’s mother, a Division Bench led by Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad questioned the Bokaro Superintendent of Police on why the probe should not be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The court made it clear that negligence in such sensitive matters cannot be overlooked and voiced dissatisfaction with the pace and direction of the investigation. It noted that despite several months passing, there has been no meaningful breakthrough.
The petitioner’s counsel, Vincent Rohit Marqui, told the court that the girl has been missing since July 31, 2025. An FIR was registered at Pindrajora Police Station in Bokaro soon after her disappearance.
According to the case details, the family received a phone call on December 11, 2025, suggesting the girl was in Pune. Police detained the caller, who claimed she was staying with someone in the city. However, in a major lapse, the man escaped while being escorted by police to Pune by train, weakening a crucial lead.
The Bokaro SP, appearing virtually, informed the court that several raids have been conducted in Pune and nearby areas. Another suspect has been detained, and preparations are underway for a narco-analysis test to gather more information.
The bench, however, remained unconvinced. Referring to a 2020 Bokaro case where a missing woman was later found murdered, the court stressed the need for urgency, accountability, and sensitivity in such investigations.
The matter is still under consideration, with the court indicating it may transfer the probe to the CBI if the investigation does not show satisfactory progress.