The probe into cases of missing girls, brought to Delhi from West Bengal to work as domestic help, has been transferred from Delhi Police to the CBI.
A bench of Justices Sanjeev Khanna and S P Garg also asked CBI to file a status report in the matter in four months, and posted the matter for April 8, 2013.
According to the bench, “In view of the gravity of the situation, the sensitivity of the issue, the plight of the parents of these girls… we are of the opinion that it would be appropriate if the investigation is conducted by the CBI. Accordingly, we direct the SHO concerned to hand over the records to CBI.”
It asked the investigating agency to appoint a competent officer to “look into the matter, complete the inquiry and expeditiously file a report in a sealed cover.”
The bench was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by one Ajit Mohali, from village Teetulati in 24 Pargan district of West Bengal, alleging that his daughter had been brought to Delhi from West Bengal through a placement agency six years ago, but she has not contacted home since then.
He alleged that four other girls from his village were also brought by one Jaya for Maa Durga Placement Agency. But they too have not contacted their families since then.
An FIR was registered in West Bengal
With the High Court’s intervention, Delhi Police filed a status report stating that Mohali’s daughter and another girl were working at a house in Janakpuri, but both of them allegedly had run away from the house.