HC seeks update on missing Puri toddler, probe progress

Cuttack: More than two years after a toddler was allegedly abducted from a busy roadside spot in Puri, Orissa high court has sought a fresh status report from the state govt, expressing concern over slow pace of investigation and failure to trace the child.A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M S Raman on Monday posted the matter to July 13 after the state sought additional time to place an affidavit on record detailing the latest progress in the case. “As requested by Aishwarya Dash, additional standing counsel, list this matter on July 13, 2026, enabling her to file an affidavit within two weeks,” the bench said.The case relates to the alleged kidnapping of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl in Dec 2023.

According to court records, the child was with her mother, who sold tender coconuts outside a hotel in Puri, when a man and a woman arrived in a car around 6.20 pm.

While the man reportedly engaged the mother in conversation, the woman allegedly picked up the child and fled.The high court earlier sought a progress report on May 4 and voiced dissatisfaction over the investigation.

Referring to a report submitted by the Puri superintendent of police, the bench noted that a special team headed by the additional SP had been formed but yielded no breakthrough.“It appears ... a lie detection test was conducted both on the complainant and her husband ... but no attempt is made to rescue the said minor victim girl,” the high court observed.

The bench further remarked that despite uploading the child’s details on national portals and displaying posters at public places, “no positive result could be seen therefrom”.Stressing that “no complacency can be shown” in a case involving a child allegedly kidnapped in broad daylight, the high court expected the Puri SP to personally supervise efforts to trace and rescue the girl.Earlier, on Feb 23, the high court had termed the situation a “sordid state of affair”, noting that despite repeated directions, the missing child remained untraced.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bhubaneswar | Silver Rate in Bhubaneswar | Bank Holidays in Bhubaneswar | Public Holidays in Bhubaneswar | Petrol Price in Bhubaneswar | Diesel Price in Bhubaneswar | CNG Price in Bhubaneswar | LPG Price in BhubaneswarStay updated with the latest Bhubaneswar news.

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