New
Delhi:
Delhi Police Friday informed the Supreme Court that a 13-year-old girl who was
missing since July 8 from Uttar Pradesh, has been recovered and the man who had
allegedly kidnapped her has been arrested from Kolkata.
“This
is certainly a reflection of the state of Uttar Pradesh Police which could not
do it for two months and wanted two-week further time,” a bench headed by
Justice AM Khanwilkar said.
The
top court was apprised by Additional Solicitor General RS Suri, representing
Delhi Police, that as per the court’s direction the Uttar Pradesh Police had
shared the investigation report with them on Thursday.
Mr
Suri told the bench, also comprising justices Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar,
that a team was constituted which went to Kolkata, arrested the man and
recovered the girl.
The
top court had on Wednesday pulled up UP Police for its probe into the case and
directed it to forthwith share the investigation report with Delhi Police.
During
the hearing conducted on Friday, the bench told the counsel appearing for UP
that without realising the “seriousness” and “urgency involved” in the matter,
they should not have made the statement seeking further two weeks’’ time to
trace the girl.
Advocate
Pai Amit, appearing for the girl’s mother who has filed a petition seeking
directions to the UP Police and Delhi Police to trace her daughter, told the
bench that he is extremely grateful to the top court and the Delhi Police that
the minor has been recovered.
He
told the top court that it must lay down guidelines on what the police should
do in such cases.
The
bench asked Delhi Police to submit a compliance report before it.
The
counsel appearing for UP asked the bench as to whether the state or Delhi
Police would conduct further investigation in the matter.
“Let
Delhi Police file a compliance report and then we will consider the question of
who will conduct further investigation,” the bench said, adding the Delhi
Police will do what is required as per the law.
The
bench asked Delhi Police to take follow-up steps and ensure that relevant
evidence, including medical reports, if any, are placed before the court along
with the compliance report.
The
bench has posted the matter for further hearing on September 7.
While
hearing the matter on Wednesday, the bench had observed that it is “a very
sensitive matter” and every minute is “precious”.
The
mother, who works as a domestic help in Delhi, claimed in her petition that her
daughter is believed to have been kidnapped from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh by
a man when her family members had gone there to attend a marriage ceremony.
An
FIR was registered in the case at Gorakhpur.
The
top court had directed the UP Police to forthwith share the entire
investigation record with the in-charge of Malviya Nagar Police Station here by
Thursday.
It
had made clear that its direction is “not absolving” the UP police officers
from continuing the investigation in the matter in coordination with Delhi
Police and to extend full cooperation as and when required.
The
counsel representing Uttar Pradesh had earlier told the bench that 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.
In
her petition, the girl’s mother has sought directions for carrying out
investigation into the disappearance and kidnapping of her daughter and take
appropriate action against those who may be found involved in this.
The
habeas corpus petition, seeking 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 for
recording her complaint about kidnapping of her daughter on the grounds that a
prior FIR has already been lodged in Uttar Pradesh.
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