The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a plea seeking further investigation into the alleged disappearance and suspected murder of a woman who went missing more than 13 years ago, holding that material on record indicated she was alive and that there was no basis for prosecuting anyone for her murder.
Justice Surya Partap Singh rejected the petition filed by the woman’s uncle, who had sought directions for filing a status report on the whereabouts of her missing niece and for a deeper probe into the matter. The petitioner contended that the investigating agency had failed in its duty to trace the missing woman and alleged that police inaction stemmed from the influence and wealth of the suspects, who were non-resident Indians and close relatives of the woman.
Senior counsel appearing for the petitioner argued that the police were duty-bound either to trace the missing woman or prosecute those allegedly responsible for her disappearance. The petitioner further questioned the police version that the woman had struck her husband with a bag before leaving a bus stand in Ludhiana in a car. It was argued that even if that account was accepted, the authorities could not be absolved of their responsibility to locate her, particularly when more than 13 years had elapsed.
The State counsel, on the other hand, contended that she was still alive, proven from the fact that she got issued passport in her own name and went to Canada. After examining the investigation record, Justice Surya Partap Singh concluded that the police had made every possible effort to trace the woman. “Every possible effort has been made by the Investigating Agency to trace out the whereabouts and apparently it is only the figment of imagination of the petitioner that she has been killed by her father and other co-accused,” the court observed.
The judge noted that the conclusion was supported by an affidavit filed by a senior IPS officer, along with evidence including statements of close relatives, passport records, details of the woman’s visits to India in 2016 and 2024, and video calls with family members.
Rejecting allegations of police negligence, the court said: “Since she is still alive, the question of prosecution of anybody for the murder does not arise at all.”
Dismissing the plea, the Bench added that the petition contained no grounds warranting further investigation or the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT). “Present petition is devoid of merits and deserves dismissal,” the court concluded.
