Jharkhand HC pulls up police over missing girl case, weighs CBI probe

Ranchi — The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday sharply criticised the state police for their handling of a missing 18-year-old girl’s case in Bokaro, flagging serious concerns over delays and lack of progress.

While hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the girl’s mother, a Division Bench headed by Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad asked the Bokaro Superintendent of Police to explain why the investigation should not be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The bench observed that such cases demand urgency and sensitivity, and said the apparent negligence and slow pace of the probe were unacceptable. It pointed out that even after several months, the investigation has not produced any concrete outcome.

Petitioner’s counsel Vincent Rohit Marqui told the court that the girl has been missing since July 31, 2025, and an FIR was registered at Pindrajora Police Station soon after.

During the investigation, the family reportedly received a call on December 11, 2025, suggesting the girl was in Pune. Police detained the caller, who claimed she was staying with someone known to him. However, in a major lapse, the man escaped while being escorted by police on a train to Pune, dealing a blow to the probe.

Appearing through video conferencing, the Bokaro SP said that several search operations have been conducted in Pune and nearby areas. Another suspect has been detained, and police are preparing to carry out a narco-analysis test to gather further leads.

The court, however, remained dissatisfied. Recalling a 2020 Bokaro case where a missing woman was later found murdered, the bench stressed the need for accountability and faster action.

The case is still under consideration, and the court indicated that it may hand over the investigation to the CBI if the situation does not improve.

With inputs from IANS