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Transfers Missing Girl Probe to CBI Citing Interstate Links and Trafficking Concerns
A division bench of the has ordered the transfer of the investigation into the disappearance of a minor girl, missing since October 2020, to the . The Court, comprising Justices Sujit Narayan Prasad and Sanjay Prasad, found the state investigation inadequate and noted the case involved and required advanced forensic tools unavailable in Jharkhand.
A Mother's Six-Year Wait for Justice
The case began on , when 14‑year‑old Sejal Jha left her home in Bokaro to attend tuition classes but never returned. Shortly after, her bicycle, slippers, and notebooks were found scattered on a road near Kurma Hospital. Her father lodged an FIR the same day at . Despite over five years passing, the family received no answers. In 2026, the mother, Usha Jha, filed a under , seeking a writ for her daughter’s production and a fair investigation.
The State initially handed the probe to the on , and a was formed. Yet, the High Court observed that the CID’s efforts largely repeated earlier police work without yielding concrete clues. The Court even noted that a Narco‑Analysis Test for one suspect remained incomplete on grounds of “medical unfitness,” with no follow-up.
State Acknowledges Limitations, Consents to CBI
As the hearings progressed, the State conceded that the case had cross‑border and interstate dimensions. IP activity had been traced to Delhi, Telangana, and West Bengal, pointing to possible trafficking. The CID also admitted that advanced tools like were unavailable in Jharkhand, and obtaining digital records from foreign entities such as and required mechanisms beyond state police reach.
The Advocate General, appearing for the State, told the Court on that there was “no objection” to the investigation being handed over to the CBI if that would help trace the missing girl. The CBI, represented by Additional Solicitor General , similarly raised no objection. A formal was filed on , confirming the State’s position.
Court’s Legal Reasoning: An Exceptional Step
The High Court examined its own power under Article 226 to direct an investigation by a central agency. Relying on the ’s observations in State of W.B. v. Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights (2010), it noted that such an order “must be exercised sparingly, cautiously and in where it becomes necessary to provide or where the incident may have national and international ramifications.”
The Bench emphasised that the present case—a minor girl missing for nearly six years, with evidence of and technical hurdles—fit this exceptional category. The State’s own admission of its forensic limitations and the need for data from foreign entities further justified the transfer.
Key Observations
“The investigation has revealed that the matter potentially involves cross-boundary and inter-State trafficking of the minor girl, as is evident from the IP activity traced to States of Delhi, Telangana, and West Bengal.”
“Technological tools such as Technology, which are advanced scientific investigative resources, are presently unavailable within the State of Jharkhand.”
“The for transfer of investigation to the CBI is entirely a logistical and operational necessity … and does not in any manner constitute an admission of investigative failure or negligence on the part of the State.”
Decision and Directions
On , the Court ordered the investigation “forthwith handed over to the .” The CID was directed to hand over all case records to the Joint Director, Eastern Zone, CBI, Ranchi. The CBI must conduct periodic reviews and file an on progress within two months. The State and CID assured “full and unconditional cooperation.”
The matter will next be heard on . The Court also cautioned against media interviews on the case, given the sensitivity of the missing minor.
This transfer marks a significant step in a case that has tested the limits of state investigative machinery, underscoring the constitutional court’s role in ensuring that the under is not rendered meaningless by .
