CBI given party‑status as Jharkhand seeks technical help in 2020 kidnapping probe

In a decisive move, the Jharkhand High Court has accorded party‑status to the Central Bureau of Investigation in the long‑standing kidnapping case of a six‑year‑old girl from Bokaro district. The order, delivered on Thursday, obligates the CBI to collaborate closely with the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) and to lend its specialized resources.

The bench, comprising Justices Sujit Narayan Prasad and Sanjay Prasad, heard the habeas corpus plea submitted by the victim’s mother, Usha Jha. The judges also formally notified the Additional Solicitor General, confirming the CBI’s inclusion as a respondent. A follow‑up hearing is slated for 27 July.

During the session, CID officials highlighted that an e‑KYC facial match from a child in Gopalganj, Bihar, showed a 90 percent similarity with the missing teenager, yet thumb‑print discrepancies prevented a conclusive identification. The court urged the use of more sophisticated forensic software, referencing a successful application of GAIT technology in a Pune investigation, and ordered its adoption in the present case.

The investigation, originally categorized as kidnapping in the 2020 FIR, has seen limited progress beyond the state police’s initial efforts. The girl’s bicycle, sandals and books were recovered near the last known location. By bringing the CBI into the fold, the court aims to leverage national‑level expertise to finally locate the missing child.