New Delhi: Delhi Police have come under scrutiny for their handling of a missing person's case, where it took six months to lodge a kidnapping FIR after the initial report was filed.
This fact is revealed from a status report filed in a habeas corpus matter pending before the Delhi High Court.
FIR under section 365 IPC
The case involves a boy who went missing on January 10, 2024, in the Bhajanpura area of Delhi. Despite the mother's efforts to report the matter to the police and lodging a missing report, the FIR under section 365 IPC was only registered on June 29, 2024.
A division bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma is dealing with a habeas corpus petition related to a boy who went missing on January 10, 2024, in the area of Bhajanpura Police Station.
Delhi police filed a status
Delhi police on Monday filed a status report stating that after making all possible efforts, when no information regarding the missing person was found then on June 29, 24 FIR under section 365 IPC an FIR was registered at Police Station Bhajanpura and further investigation of the same was marked to HC Sonu for further investigation and on July 03, 2024, the same case was marked to SI Kunal for further investigation.
His mother after making her efforts reported the matter to the police and a missing report was lodged. Thereafter, the mother moved to the High Court with a petition for habeas corpus. Advocate Fozia Rahman is appearing for Petitioner Shabnam.
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Since May 2024, Delhi Police have filed three status reports. In September 2024 Delhi police informed the court that they received some information that the boy was using an Instagram account.
Thereafter responses were sought from several social media platforms.
During the hearing, on Monday some of the social media platforms filed their responses.
The High Court order
The High Court unit's order of September 19 noted that as per the said status report the investigation is currently going on and some leads have been received.
Further, it is stated that one such lead received by the concerned IO is that on 6th September 2024 the missing boy was using an Instagram account under the user ID -
shabanashabana8032, the High Court noted.
A notice under Section 91 of CrPC is stated to have been given to Instagram, Meta Platforms Inc., to provide the details of the aforementioned account including, the phone number, location/IP address, and the IMEI number of the device used for operating the said account. However, no reply is stated to have been received from Meta Platforms Inc./Instagram as per the concerned IO.
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On September 20, the counsel for Meta submitted that information was uploaded on the platform which is used by law enforcement agencies to communicate with Meta.
Standing Counsel Sanjay Lao for the State affirmed that the information had been received the morning.
On October 8, Standing counsel placed on record a status report on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Legal Division, PHQ, New Delhi.
Copy of the report has been served upon the ld. Counsels for platforms.
Thereafter, the High Court had directed platforms shall also respond to this report in their affidavits/submissions.
In addition, it was submitted that the concerned Nodal Officer from the Ministry of Home Affairs also wishes to place on record the issues that they face when dealing with platforms and their suggestions in this regard.
Concerns about the efficiency and effectiveness
This case highlights concerns about the efficiency and effectiveness of Delhi Police in handling missing person cases. The delay in lodging the FIR and the challenges in obtaining information from social media platforms have raised questions about the need for improved protocols and cooperation between law enforcement agencies and technology companies.
Notably, Delhi High Court in a ruling in July 2024 had said that the first 24-hour period is crucial for tracing a missing person or child while dealing with a matter related to a missing minor girl. (with Agency inputs)
