Ranchi, April 2 (IANS) The Jharkhand High Court has taken serious note of allegations made by a young woman against her brother residing abroad and questioned the police over its inaction, while directing it to take appropriate steps without delay.

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

The woman has alleged that her brother, currently residing in Australia, falsely declared her “mentally ill” using his influence and forcibly admitted her to a mental hospital in Ranchi in a bid to grab ancestral property.

Coming down strongly on the police, the bench sought an explanation from the SSP, asking why action had not been initiated in a matter involving such grave allegations. In response, the SSP assured the court that the complaint would be examined and necessary action would be taken.

The petitioner told the court that she is presently living in dire financial conditions with her ailing parents in a rented accommodation in the Kadma area of Jamshedpur. She stated that she is well-educated and continues to prepare for national-level competitive examinations.

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

Taking note of the seriousness of the allegations, the High Court directed that the Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, be impleaded as a respondent to assist in tracing the brother abroad.

The bench also asked the Jamshedpur SSP to ensure the safety and security of the woman and her parents, warning that any untoward incident would invite personal accountability.

Additionally, the court asked the counsel representing the petitioner’s mother to explore the possibility of an amicable settlement and file an affidavit detailing any agreed-upon terms before the next hearing.

Advocates Khushboo Kumari and Shailesh Kumar appeared on behalf of the petitioner.

–IANS

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