"Reflection on UP police," says Supreme Court after Delhi Police traces missing minor girl, arrests kidnapper

The Delhi Police on Friday informed Supreme Court that a minor girl who had gone missing from Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur in July 2021 has been traced to Kolkata and her kidnapper has been arrested (Smt. Neelam Kanojia vs. State of Uttar Pradesh)..Additional Solicitor General RS Puri, appearing for the Delhi Police, informed the Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar about this development after the Court had previously asked the Delhi Police to investigate the matter since probe by Uttar Pradesh (UP) police had yielded no results..Puri told the Court on Friday that pursuant to the top court's order, the UP police handed over case files to Delhi Police on Thursday and thereafter a team from Delhi police visited Kolkata and traced the girl.The Court then proceeded to make some adverse comments against the UP Police.."This is a reflection on the state of UP Police. The police did not see this for so long and on top of this wanted two more months to conduct probe," the Court remarked..The Court, thereafter, proceeded to direct Delhi Police to gather relevant evidence including medical reports and submit the same in court for compliance..Supreme Court directs Delhi, Uttar Pradesh police to investigate case of missing minor girl expeditiously .The petitioner, a domestic worker in Delhi, had claimed that her daughter was kidnapped by one Akash, the accused in the case, while they were visiting her husband’s hometown of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.An FIR with respect to the missing girl was filed with the Gorakhpur Police and an attempt was made to file a complaint in Delhi as well. However, the petitioner claimed that no action has been taken to bring the minor girl back.The petitioner also claimed that Akash had been chasing, luring, and inducing the minor girl to reside with him. In fact, previously police officials had given Akash a final warning to refrain from engaging harassing the girl but despite this warning, he continued with his conduct.The petitioner apprehended and expressed fear that the accused had kidnapped her daughter in order to subject her to grievous hurt, slavery or unnatural lust.Later, the petitioner moved the Supreme Court which proceeded to direct Delhi Police also to investigate the matter.Advocate Amit Pai appeared for the petitioner.