Jharkhand HC warns CBI takeover in Bokaro missing girl case since 2020
Synopsis
Five years after a 14-year-old went missing in Bokaro, the Jharkhand High Court has had enough. The bench openly questioned why Bokaro police repeatedly fail in missing-women cases, flagged a last-minute CID transfer as a cover-up attempt, and put the CBI on the table — all in one hearing.
Key Takeaways
The Jharkhand High Court on 15 May 2025 rebuked Bokaro police for failing to trace a 14-year-old girl missing since 2020 .
The court warned of a possible CBI handover if the CID does not show progress within three weeks .
Four suspects were initially detained under Case No.
161/20 at Pindrajora police station but were all subsequently released.
The bench flagged that the case was transferred to CID in April 2026 only after years of inaction, calling it an apparent cover-up of lapses.
The next hearing is on 8 June , when a separate Bokaro missing-girl case involving an 18-year-old will also be heard.
The Jharkhand High Court on Friday, 15 May 2025, sharply rebuked Bokaro police for what it termed a 'lackadaisical' handling of the disappearance of a 14-year-old girl — a case that has remained unsolved for over five years since the FIR was lodged in 2020. The court warned that if the investigation does not show visible progress, it may transfer the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Court's Sharp Observations
A division bench comprising Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad made pointed oral observations questioning why Bokaro police have repeatedly failed to make headway in cases involving missing girls and women. The bench raised concerns over the functioning of both former and current Bokaro Superintendents of Police, as well as the DSP concerned.
The court noted that although police themselves suspect the possibility of abduction, no investigation has been meaningfully pursued in that direction — a contradiction the bench found deeply troubling.
Key Failures the Court Flagged
According to petitioner's counsel Vincent Rohit Markey, four suspects were initially detained in connection with Case No. 161/20 registered at Pindrajora police station, but all were subsequently released. The court also pointed out that while three suspects had been slated for narco tests, one was let off citing poor health.
The bench further remarked that after failing to achieve any breakthrough over five years, police hastily transferred the case to the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in April 2026 — a move the court described as an apparent attempt to cover up institutional lapses.
What the Court Has Directed
Terming the probe unsatisfactory, the court directed the CID to submit a progress report within three weeks. It warned that if no improvement is evident, it would consider handing over the investigation jointly to state agencies and the CBI. The next hearing has been scheduled for 8 June, when a separate petition concerning the disappearance of an 18-year-old girl from Bokaro will also be taken up.
Background: A Mother's Fight for Justice
The minor girl's mother, frustrated by five years of inaction, approached the Jharkhand High Court seeking judicial intervention. Her petition is what prompted the court to adopt a strict stance against the police. This case is not an isolated instance — the court's observation that Bokaro police 'repeatedly fail' in missing women and girls cases suggests a pattern of systemic neglect that goes beyond a single investigation.
What Happens Next
All eyes are now on the CID's progress report, due within three weeks. Should the agency fail to demonstrate meaningful advancement, a CBI handover — potentially alongside state agencies — appears increasingly likely. The 8 June hearing will be a critical checkpoint, with the court simultaneously examining another missing-girl case from the same district.
Point of View
And it signals the bench is not inclined to accept procedural compliance as a substitute for actual results. If the CBI is eventually brought in, it will raise uncomfortable questions about why five years and multiple SPs were not enough to trace one child.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Jharkhand High Court missing girl case about?
The case concerns a 14-year-old girl from Bokaro who went missing in 2020 and has not been traced in over five years. Her mother petitioned the Jharkhand High Court after police failed to make any breakthrough, prompting the court to intervene and warn of a CBI probe.
Why did the Jharkhand High Court threaten a CBI probe?
The court found the investigation 'unsatisfactory,' noting that despite an FIR in 2020, all four suspects were released, a narco test was abandoned citing poor health, and the case was transferred to the CID only in April 2026 — apparently to cover up years of inaction. The CBI warning was issued as a last resort to force accountability.
What has the court directed in the meantime?
The Jharkhand High Court has directed the CID to submit a progress report within three weeks. If no visible improvement is evident, the court said it may hand the probe jointly to state investigating agencies and the CBI.
When is the next hearing in this case?
The next hearing is scheduled for 8 June . On that date, the court will also take up a separate petition related to the disappearance of an 18-year-old girl from Bokaro.
Who is representing the petitioner in the Jharkhand High Court?
Advocate Vincent Rohit Markey is representing the petitioner — the missing girl's mother — who approached the High Court after five years of police inaction failed to locate her daughter.
