VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday came down heavily on Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta for the ‘poor handling’ of the case involving the disappearance of a 15-year-old girl from Guntur.
A division bench comprising Justice Battu Devanand and Justice Gedela Tuhin Kumar, questioned the DGP’s decision to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT), observing that it appeared to be merely an eyewash. The court remarked that whenever SIT was constituted in a case, it often meant that the case was being pushed into “cold storage”. The bench rapped the police for their failure to trace the girl and produce her before court as directed earlier.
The court also objected to the inclusion of Guntur and Pattabhipuram police personnel in SIT, which was headed by Guntur SP (Crimes) K Supraja. It observed that Pattabhipuram police had registered the missing case nearly three months ago but had failed to trace the girl. The bench questioned how officers who had failed to locate the missing girl could be made part of the fresh investigation team.
It further questioned whether the DGP had obtained a report from the Guntur district SP before constituting SIT. The bench also questioned why a report was obtained from the CID and what connection it had with the case.
The court expressed strong dissatisfaction over the memo filed by the police, stating that it contained lengthy narratives. It said the disappearance of a minor girl was being treated as a routine matter.
Spl Govt Pleader seeks more time to trace girl
The bench made it clear that the court wanted only one thing - the whereabouts of the girl- and not periodic reports or assurances.
The court warned that it might summon the DGP and other police officials concerned for personal appearance if there was no progress in the case.
Special Government Pleader Tirumani Vishnu Teja sought time until Monday, assuring the court that the girl would be traced and produced before it. He said the missing-person case had also been altered to a kidnap case. Taking note of the submissions, the bench adjourned the hearing to September 7.