Bombay HC raps police for laxity in tracing missing woman

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The Bombay High Court on Tuesday pulled up the Maharashtra police for its superficial probe in tracing a woman who went missing after she went to Rajasthan three months ago, leaving her baby behind.

A division bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Manjusha Deshpande directed the superintendent of police, Kolhapur, to coordinate with his counterpart in Rajasthan and ensure the woman is traced and roduced in court on June 20. The bench remarked that it was "unbelievable that police machinery of two states were unable to trace a woman".

The bench was hearing a habeas corpus (produce person in court) petition filed by the woman's husband from Kolhapur. The man claimed his wife was detained by her father as he disapproved of their inter-caste marriage. As per the plea, the couple tied the knot in February 2022.

In February this year, the woman was informed by a family member that her father was unwell and wished to see her. The woman went to Rajasthan to meet her father, leaving her infant son with her husband. However, when she did not return, and when he could not contact her, the man filed a police complaint and a plea in court.

Last month, HC directed the Kolhapur police to visit Rajasthan to track her whereabouts. On Tuesday, the police's advocate told the court the police visited the woman's residence but did not find her. They said the woman's grandparents and the neighbours said she was not at home.

An angry bench said, "The police have to be told how to inquire? Grandfather said she's not there, so you came back?" the court said. "After the court order, the phones [of the woman and her parents] are switched off. You don't know how to trace that? I thought the Maharashtra police was the best," the court said.