‘Reflection of UP Police’, says SC after kidnapped UP girl traced, brought back by Delhi Police

The Supreme Court was on Friday informed that a 13-year-old girl who was kidnapped from Gorakhpur and was untraceable for 2 months has been traced by Delhi Police yesterday from Kolkata and the abductor has been arrested.

After the minor girl remained untraced for two months, the Supreme Court had on Wednesday asked the Uttar Pradesh Police to hand over the investigation records to the Delhi Police and had directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to oversee the investigation.

A Bench comprising Justice AM Khanwilkar, Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice CT Ravikumar was informed by Additional Solicitor General Rupinder Singh Suri, appearing for the Delhi Police, that after the UP Police handed over the case papers to Delhi Police on Thursday, the Delhi Police went to Kolkata and traced both the minor girl and her abductor.

"This is certainly a reflection of the state UP Police. The state did not go for so long and they wanted 2 months further time, without realizing seriousness of the matter, and the urgency involved", the bench orally commented, as per a report carried by Live Law.

Pursuant to the information, the Bench has directed the Delhi Police to take follow up steps to ensure that relevant evidence including medical reports, if any, are placed before the court along with a compliance report.

Further, the Delhi Police has been asked to hand over custody of the minor girl to the petitioner-mother after doing necessary formalities on being brought to Delhi.

During the hearing, ASG Rupinder Singh Suri submitted that, "This court's intervention has brought happy results, Yesterday UP Police gave the papers. A select team was made and went to Calcutta. The boy has been arrested and recovered lady is under their protection. The police has done a great job".

Advocate Amit Pai appearing for the petitioner submitted that the court must lay down guidelines as to how to act in such cases.

"Police is expected to look for rescue victims. Is it necessary for Supreme Court or High Court to say that?" the bench remarked.

"Mr Suri has reported to us that person concerned has been arrested and girl has been traced. Let compliance report be filed and we will decide what is to be done. Whatever is required to be done", the bench orally observed.

The Court was considering a habeas corpus petition filed by the missing girl's mother, suspecting a Delhi resident to be the kidnapper

On the last occasion, the petitioner's counsel Amit Pai had submitted before the bench that it is highly unfortunate that the girl has not been traced so far. The petitioner is working as a domestic maid in Delhi, and the suspect had been trying to lure and seduce her minor daughter for long. With respect to that, she had lodged a complaint before the Malviya Nagar Police station in Delhi.