New
Delhi:
The Supreme Court today pulled up the Uttar Pradesh Police for its probe into a
case of a 13-year-old missing girl and directed it to forthwith share the
investigation report with Delhi Police so that the minor could be traced.
The
Supreme Court also warned the Uttar Pradesh Police that the case may be handed
over to the CBI if it failed to trace the minor, who has been missing since
July 8.
The
Supreme Court, which termed the case as “a very sensitive matter,” also said
that “the time factor is equally important” and every minute is “precious”,
while hearing a plea filed by the mother who was seeking directions to the
Uttar Pradesh Police and the Delhi Police to trace her minor daughter.
The
mother, who works as a domestic help in Delhi, has claimed in her petition that
her daughter is believed to have been kidnapped from Gorakhpur by a man when
her family members had gone there to attend a marriage ceremony.
An
FIR was registered in the case at Gorakhpur.
“You
(Uttar Pradesh Police) share the entire information with Delhi Police. We will
ask them to do the needful. You share your investigation report with Delhi
Police by tomorrow. We are directing you,” a bench headed by Justice AM
Khanwilkar told the counsel appearing for state of Uttar Pradesh.
The
counsel representing Uttar Pradesh told the bench, also comprising justices
Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar, that the police is trying to trace the girl
and they also have the call detail records.
The
counsel said the police be given two more weeks as the case involves
investigation in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi and they have also received
information that the girl might be in West Bengal.
“The
time factor is equally important. We may transfer it to the CBI if you are
unable to do it. The incident is of July. We have entered in September. If you
have the details, why you will take time?” the bench asked.
The
Supreme Court said the police will have to investigate the matter and find out
the details.
“In
this case, every hour, every minute is precious. You are not showing the
anxiety that is expected in a matter like this. It is a very sensitive matter,”
the bench observed.
“Where
is the question of two weeks?” it asked, adding, “You have the call details and
yet you have not moved into action. We are surprised.”
The
Supreme Court directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to share the entire
investigation report with the Delhi Police by Thursday.
The
bench, while posting the matter for hearing on Friday, asked the Delhi Police
Commissioner to ensure that prompt further investigation is undertaken for
tracing out the girl.
The
Supreme Court had on August 27 issued notice on the petition and posted it for
hearing today.
In
her petition filed through advocate Pai Amit, the girl's mother has sought
directions for carrying out the investigation into the disappearance and
kidnapping of her daughter as well as appropriate action against those who may
be found involved in this.
The
habeas corpus petition, which has sought to produce the girl before the court,
has alleged that despite an FIR being lodged at Gorakhpur and an attempt being
made to make a complaint with the Delhi Police, no action has been taken to
trace the minor.
It
said the man, who is suspected to have kidnapped the girl, was constantly
luring and coaxing her to accompany him.
The
mother claimed after an FIR was registered in Gorakhpur, she returned to Delhi
and approached a police station where she had complained regarding the man on a
previous occasion but the police refused to register or take steps towards
recording her complaint with respect to kidnapping of her daughter on the
grounds that a prior FIR has already been lodged in Uttar Pradesh.
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