Cops rapped for giving filmy' excuse on missing girl

Mumbai: Pulling up the police for not being able to trace the whereabouts of a missing minor girl, the Bombay high court told the cops that life is not a film story.

The observation came while hearing a petition pertaining to the police’s search for a missing minor girl who allegedly eloped with her boyfriend. The police informed the HC that such minors get influenced by movies, electronic media and social media and return home after attaining majority. The court refused to accept the contention of police, commenting that life is not a film.

The HC directed the superintendent of police to file affidavit pertaining to her search on next hearing.

A division bench of Justice S.C. Dharma-dhikari and Justice Prakash Naik was hearing a criminal writ petition filed by Umesh Bhise, a Sangli resident. He told the court that his minor daughter went missing in December 29, 2017.

He alleged that he had registered an FIR at Kundal police station but police didn’t investigate the matter till March 2018.

On Tuesday, the police submitted an investigation report before the HC. The report stated that girl had eloped with the boy who is distant relative of the petitioner. It also mentioned that she had called three persons to whom police had inquired. And police also carried search in the house of her maternal grandfather’s house but didn’t find anything.

Irked by the police’s lackadaisical attitude, the court said, “We do not think this is a real life story and should be placed before this highest court. Life is not films. Therefore, we direct the deputy superintendent of police, Sangli, to personally supervise the investigations.”