Ranchi, July 2: The Jharkhand High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to become a party in the case of a minor girl who has been missing from Bokaro district for six years. During a hearing on Thursday, the court instructed both the CBI and the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to proceed with the investigation in mutual coordination. The CBI has been tasked with providing necessary support to the CID through its technical expertise and resources to expedite the search for the missing girl.
The bench, comprising Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad, issued this order while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the girl’s mother, Usha Jha. The court formally made the CBI a party in the case, informing Additional Solicitor General Prashant Pallav. The next hearing is scheduled for July 27.
During the proceedings, the CID informed the court that, in the course of e-KYC matching, a girl’s face from Gopalganj, Bihar, was found to match approximately 90 percent with the missing minor from Bokaro. However, due to discrepancies in thumbprints and other identification details, her identity could not be confirmed. The court emphasized the need for more effective use of scientific techniques, referencing a case from Pune, and directed the use of GAIT software in the investigation.
The bench also remarked that despite the CID being assigned the investigation, the progress so far has largely been limited to the initial research conducted by the state police. Therefore, utilizing the technical expertise of the central agency appears essential in the search for the minor. This case pertains to the Pindrajora police station area in Bokaro, where the 14-year-old girl has been missing since October 16, 2020. The initial FIR filed after the incident classified it as a kidnapping case, with the girl’s bicycle, slippers, and books found near the crime scene.
After a prolonged period without any solid leads, the family approached the High Court. Currently, the CID is conducting the investigation. During Thursday’s hearing, the state’s Advocate General Rohitshy Rai was present, while the petitioners were represented by lawyers Vincent Rohit Marki and Ritu Nanda. Officials from the Special Investigation Team (SIT), including the CID’s ADG, were also present in court.
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