Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 15: In a kidnapping case, State High Court today directed SSP Poonch to remain present in the court on next date of hearing and consider initiation of appropriate proceedings into the conduct of Investigating Officer Abdul Rehman.
The order was passed in a habeas corpus petition filed by the father of kidnapped 16 years old girl seeking her release from the illegal custody of one Ahtzaz Anjum.
“As kidnapped girl was not recovered after the registration of the case, two weeks time was allowed to the investigating police officer on the last date to see that the investigation was taken to its logical conclusion”, Justice J P Singh said, adding “despite knowing that the kidnapped girl was available at Jammu, the police had not taken any step to recover her”.
On this, the Additional Advocate General Ravinder Sharma informed that Investigating Officer of the case Abdul Rehman had conveyed to him about the kidnapped girl’s availability at Jammu. The IO Abdul Rehman, who was present in the Court, was accordingly asked to report as why the girl was not recovered to which he stated that he had absolutely no information about the whereabouts of kidnapped girl.
“The Court has no reasons to disbelieve the Additional Advocate General. It appears that Abdul Rehman was making incorrect statement for reasons best known to him. The inaction of IO to discharge his duty to investigate the case properly and recover the kidnapped girl, despite his knowing about her whereabouts, disentitles him to conduct further investigation in the case”, Justice J P Singh said.
Accordingly, the IO was directed to immediately surrender the case dairies to SSP Poonch, who will henceforth investigate the case himself. The High Court also directed SSP to consider initiation of appropriate proceedings into the conduct of IO Abdul Rehman. The SSP was also directed to remain present in the Court on the next date of hearing.