Orissa High Court Urges Immediate Action in 2023 Puri Kidnapping Case
The Orissa High Court has issued a directive to the Puri police, mandating an intensified effort to locate and rescue a minor girl who was kidnapped in 2023 and has been missing ever since. During a recent hearing, the court expressed deep concern over the lack of progress in the case, labeling the situation as "alarming" and emphasizing the urgent need for the child's recovery.
Details of the Kidnapping Incident
According to case records, the incident occurred in December 2023 outside a hotel in Puri. The child, who was two years old at the time, was allegedly abducted while her mother was selling tender coconuts. A man and a woman arrived in a car; the man engaged the mother in a conversation about purchasing coconuts, while the woman reportedly picked up the child from near the vehicle and fled. This brazen act has left the family and authorities in distress, with the child remaining untraceable for over two years.
Court's Observations and Previous Directives
Earlier, on February 23, 2026, the high court had criticized the police for their lack of progress in tracing the child. The court had directed the Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) to form a special task force and personally oversee the investigation. In the latest hearing, additional government advocate Debashis Tripathy informed the court that a special team had been established under the SP's supervision. This team has conducted searches at multiple locations and contacted hospitals and the Child Welfare Committee for potential leads, but so far, no clues have been found.
The bench, headed by Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M S Raman, noted the gravity of the situation, stating, "It is really alarming that a child, who was allegedly taken away from the custody of biological parents, is still untraceable. We show our concern over the welfare of the said child and there is a reasonable apprehension in our mind that unless the said child is immediately rescued and/or recovered, there is every possibility of the said child being misused."
Court's Latest Orders and Future Steps
In response, the bench has directed the Puri SP to proceed with rescuing or recovering the minor child and to submit a report on any further progress by the next hearing date. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on April 6, 2026. The court's February 23 order had previously described the case as a "sordid state of affair," highlighting that despite several directives, the minor girl has not been rescued since the habeas corpus petition was filed in 2023.
This case underscores ongoing challenges in child protection and law enforcement responsiveness in India, with the high court's intervention aiming to spur more effective action. The authorities are now under increased pressure to deliver results and ensure the safe return of the missing child.
