Ranchi, May 15 (IANS) The Jharkhand High Court on Friday expressed strong displeasure over the lackadaisical handling of a missing minor girl case dating back to 2020 by Bokaro police, warning that if the situation does not improve, the probe may be handed over to the CBI.

A division bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad, while hearing a petition related to the disappearance of a 14-year-old girl, made sharp oral observations questioning why Bokaro police repeatedly fail to make headway in cases involving missing girls and women.

The court also raised concerns over the functioning of both former and current Bokaro Superintendents of Police, as well as the DSP concerned.

The bench noted with concern that although police themselves suspect the possibility of abduction, no proper investigation has been carried out in that direction.

Terming the probe unsatisfactory, the court directed the CID to submit a progress report within three weeks.

Issuing a stern warning, the court said that if there is no visible improvement in the CID investigation, it may consider handing over the probe jointly to state investigating agencies and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The court further observed that despite an FIR being lodged in 2020, the police failed to trace the minor girl over the past five years. It also pointed out that while three suspects were earlier slated for narco tests, one was later let off, citing poor health.

The bench remarked that after failing to achieve any breakthrough for years, the police hurriedly transferred the case to the CID in April 2026, seemingly to cover up its lapses.

The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for June 8, when another petition related to the disappearance of an 18-year-old girl from Bokaro will also be taken up.

According to the petitioner’s counsel, Vincent Rohit Markey, there has been no trace of the minor even after five years. Although four suspects were initially detained in connection with the case registered at Pindrajora police station (Case No. 161/20), they were subsequently released.

Frustrated with the lack of progress, the girl’s mother approached the High Court seeking intervention, which prompted the court to take a strict stance.

–IANS

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