JUDGMENT

Dated this the 19 th day of February, 2021 Jesna Maria James, a young girl of 20 years doing her IInd year B.Com, has been missing since

22.03.2018. According to her brother, the second petitioner herein, Jesna was at home when he and Jesna's father left for work at about 7.00 a.m. on

22.03.2018. But, when he returned by about 5.00 p.m in the evening, Jesna was not at home and did not reach back even by late night. All efforts to trace out the girl turned futile and thereupon, Jesna's father lodged a complaint at the Police Station, which resulted in a man missing case under Section 57 of the Kerala Police Act (Crime

No.201 of 2018) being registered at the Vechoochira Police Station on 23.03.2018. Later, an investigation team headed by the Inspector of Police, Ranni was constituted. The local police having failed to make any headway, the writ petition was filed seeking a direction to hand over the investigation to the CBI.

2. Pending the writ petition, the investigation was transferred to the CBCID vide