Jharkhand HC orders DNA test in missing Bokaro teen case, pulls up probe pace

The Jharkhand High Court has taken a stern view of the investigation into the disappearance of an 18-year-old student from Bokaro, directing authorities to conduct a DNA test on skeletal remains recovered by the police.

A division bench comprising Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad ordered that the DNA analysis be carried out at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Kolkata. To ensure transparency, the court also instructed that the post-mortem examination be conducted at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi instead of Jamshedpur.

During the hearing, senior officials—including the state DGP, Bokaro SP, the Forensic Science Laboratory director, and members of a Special Investigation Team (SIT)—appeared in person before the court.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the slow progress of the probe, the bench directed the Solicitor General to ensure that samples from the recovered skeleton and the victim’s parents are collected and sent to Kolkata within 48 hours. The state government has also been asked to submit a detailed status report within two weeks.

Authorities informed the court that 18 police personnel from the concerned police station have been suspended for dereliction of duty. However, the bench made it clear that accountability should not stop at lower-level officials and must extend to senior officers as well.

The case relates to the alleged abduction of Pushpa Kumari Mahto, reported in August 2025. The investigation saw little progress for months until her mother, Rekha Devi, approached the High Court with a habeas corpus petition, prompting renewed police action.

Following the arrest of the accused, Dinesh Kumar Mahto, police recovered skeletal remains based on his disclosure. However, the petitioner’s counsel, Vincent Rohit Marky, raised concerns over whether the remains actually belong to the missing girl.

The DNA test results are now expected to play a crucial role in determining the identity of the remains and the direction of the investigation.

With inputs from IANS