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Transfers Missing Woman Unsound Mind Probe To CBI After UP Police Fails
In a significant move underscoring the limits of local police capabilities, the has transferred the investigation into the disappearance of a 42-year-old woman of unsound mind to the . The decision came after the failed to trace Sudama Devi for over two years, despite multiple court directives.
A Two-Year Wait for Answers
Sudama Devi went missing on , from Police Station Puranderpur area in Maharajganj district. A missing person report was lodged the very next day, but no breakthrough was achieved. Her husband, Jitendra, approached the High Court through a , alleging that Devi was in the of a local resident, Jameela Khatoon. The petition highlighted an existing enmity between the families as the backdrop of the alleged unlawful detention.
The case, heard by a of Justice Sandeep Jain, initially focused on locating the missing woman. Early orders noted the enmity between the petitioners and respondent no. 4, and the court directed the state to file a detailed disclosing her whereabouts.
Police Efforts Fall Short
In compliance, the state filed an on , revealing that a dedicated team of police officials had been deputed since , to trace Devi. The described her as a 42-year-old woman of unsound mind who did not possess a mobile phone, making the search particularly challenging. The police denied the allegation of and detailed their efforts, which unfortunately yielded no result.
On the next hearing on September 29, the state conceded that despite
"the best efforts made by the police personnel,"
the
remained untraced. The court noted that more than two years had passed since the missing person report was lodged, and the
had failed to produce her.
Court Steps In: CBI Takes Over
Expressing its disappointment, the High Court decided to entrust the investigation to the CBI, Ghaziabad. The observed that the failure of the state police, despite the passage of a considerable period, warranted a fresh approach by a specialized agency. The court directed the CBI to make every possible effort to trace Sudama Devi and produce her before the court on .
The also stipulated that state authorities must extend full cooperation to the CBI, making available all records, evidence, and materials collected during the earlier investigation. Further, if Devi is not traced by the next date, the CBI Investigating Officer will have to file a personal explaining the steps taken and the reasons for the failure.
Key Observations from the Court
The court's pivotal reasoning was captured in its dated :
"In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, particularly the failure of the State police authorities to trace the
despite the passage of more than two years since the lodging of the missing person report, this Court deems it appropriate to entrust the investigation of the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation, Ghaziabad."
Earlier, on , the court had expressed hope:
"This Court hopes and trusts that the police authorities shall ultimately succeed in tracing the
, Sudama Devi, and producing her before this Court."
However, the hope remained unfulfilled.
A Race Against Time
The transfer to CBI marks a crucial juncture in the search for Sudama Devi. With her unsound mind condition and lack of communication means, every passing day increases the urgency. The High Court has set a clear timeline, with the next hearing on , and expects concrete progress from the central agency. The case serves as a reminder of the challenges in locating vulnerable missing persons and the necessary to ensure accountability in investigative efforts.
