Delhi Police are facing scrutiny after it took six months to file a kidnapping FIR following a missing report for a boy last seen on January 10, 2024, in Bhajanpura, Delhi. The delay was revealed in a status report submitted to the Delhi High Court, which is currently handling a habeas corpus petition filed by the boy’s mother.
Legal Proceedings and Investigative Challenges
Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Amit Sharma are presiding over the petition, filed by Shabnam, the boy’s mother, who reported her son missing soon after his disappearance. However, a formal kidnapping FIR under Section 365 of the IPC was not registered until June 29, 2024. The initial investigation was assigned to HC Sonu, later transferred to SI Kunal on July 3.
Delhi Police filed multiple status reports, including a recent one noting they found the boy using an Instagram account under the user ID “shabanashabana8032.” Despite submitting requests for information to Instagram (Meta Platforms Inc.), no response had been received as of September 2024.
During a recent hearing, the High Court acknowledged that Meta Platforms had informed the Delhi Police about information available on its law enforcement platform. The police are seeking details such as the phone number, IP address, and IMEI of the device associated with the account. Meta confirmed receipt of the request, while a nodal officer from the Ministry of Home Affairs highlighted challenges in cooperating with social media platforms.
High Court’s Concern over Police Efficiency
In July, the Delhi High Court emphasized that the first 24 hours after a disappearance are critical for recovering missing persons, especially minors. The current case raises concerns about Delhi Police’s efficiency in handling such cases, sparking discussions on necessary improvements in investigative protocols and collaboration between law enforcement agencies and social media companies.
