Jharkhand HC questions police inaction on woman’s allegations against NRI brother

Ranchi — The Jharkhand High Court has expressed concern over serious allegations made by a young woman against her brother living abroad and questioned the police for not acting on her complaint. The court directed authorities to take prompt and appropriate steps. 

While hearing a habeas corpus petition, a Division Bench headed by Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad virtually summoned the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Jamshedpur and asked why no First Information Report (FIR) had been registered despite the woman submitting a written complaint.

The petitioner alleged that her brother, who resides in Australia, used his influence to falsely label her as “mentally ill” and had her forcibly admitted to a mental hospital in Ranchi to take control of ancestral property.

Taking a stern view of the matter, the bench sought an explanation from the SSP, noting the gravity of the accusations. The SSP assured the court that the complaint would be reviewed and necessary action would follow.

The woman told the court that she is currently living in difficult financial circumstances with her ailing parents in a rented house in Jamshedpur’s Kadma area. She said she is well-educated and is preparing for national-level competitive examinations.

She further claimed that her brother had their grandfather’s property transferred to his name through a gift deed and later sold it. To prevent her from asserting her rights, she alleged, he arranged for her forced admission to psychiatric facilities, including the Davis Institute of Psychiatry in Kanke and the Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS).

Considering the seriousness of the allegations, the High Court directed that the Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs be made a respondent to help trace the brother abroad. 

The bench also instructed the Jamshedpur SSP to ensure the safety of the woman and her parents, warning that any untoward incident would lead to personal accountability. Additionally, the court asked the counsel representing the petitioner’s mother to explore the possibility of an amicable settlement and submit an affidavit outlining any agreement before the next hearing.

Advocates Khushboo Kumari and Shailesh Kumar represented the petitioner.

With inputs from IANS