UP Police Fail To Trace Missing Woman Of Unsound Mind For Over 2 Years, Allahabad High Court Transfers Probe To CBI
The Allahabad High Court has transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the investigation into the disappearance of a 42-year-old woman after the Uttar Pradesh Police failed to trace her for more than two years.
A bench of Justice Sandeep Jain passed the direction after noting that despite the best efforts made by the police personnel, the woman, Sudama Devi, could not be traced or recovered.
The Court noted that the woman had been missing since September 8, 2024, and that police registered a missing person report at Police Station Puranderpur, District Maharajganj, on September 9, 2024. Despite more than 2 years passing, she remained untraced. cbi
The bench was dealing with a habeas corpus petition filed by Sudama Devi's husband. The petition alleged that respondent no. 4, Jameela Khatoon, was in illegal custody of her, and stated that a complaint had also been registered at the concerned police station.
When the matter was initially taken up, the Court noted that the petitioners and respondent no.4 were in enmity, on account of which, the allegation of Sudama Devi's illegal custody had been made.
The Court later directed the State to file a detailed affidavit disclosing the woman's whereabouts.
In its affidavit, the State said that a team of dedicated police officials had been deputed to trace the corpus-woman.
It described her as a 42-year-old woman of unsound mind who did not have a mobile phone and stated that these circumstances made it difficult for the police authorities to trace her.
The State also denied the allegation that respondent no. 4 was in illegal custody of the corpus and detailed the efforts police personnel allegedly made to locate her.
On September 29, the State informed the High Court that "despite the best efforts made by the police personnel", the woman remained untraced.
The Court noted that she had been missing since September 8, 2024, and that a missing person report had been lodged the following day. However, even after more than 2 years, the Uttar Pradesh Police had not traced or recovered her.
Hence, the bench passed the following order:
"In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, particularly the failure of the State police authorities to trace the corpus 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".
The High Court directed the CBI to make all necessary efforts to trace Sudama Devi and produce her before the Court on December 1, 2026.
The Court also directed the State authorities and their functionaries to extend all necessary cooperation and assistance to the CBI.
They were further directed to make all records, evidence, and other material collected during the investigation so far available to the central agency.
The bench also directed that if the woman is not traced and produced before the Court on the next date, the CBI Investigating Officer will have to file a personal affidavit disclosing the steps taken and efforts made to trace her, along with the reasons for the failure, if any, to trace and produce her before the Court.
The matter has been listed for December 1, 2026.