High Court expresses concern over rise in missing children

The court made these observations while hearing a petition filed by a woman whose husband had absconded with their four-year old son last year.

On Monday,the court had remarked that police cannot shield rich and influential people and hauled up the state police for failing to trace the businessman who had absconded with his four-year-old son.

Mother Priti Chug had moved HC after father Bunty Chug,who is in the power loom business,absconded with his son Sujal on November 14,2008,the day Priti was to get the custody of the child following earlier court orders.

The judges,on Tuesday,stated that the police must make all efforts to trace him as the father had disobeyed earlier court orders.

Justice Desai observed that the father has shown disrespect to court order and has now issued notices to Priti’s father-in-law Shankar and brother-in-law Nitin who have to remain present in the court on April 27.

The notices,that have to be forwarded by central police station at Ulhasnagar,were issued after Additional Public Prosecutor Vitthal Konde Deshmukh told the court that they were not cooperating with the investigation. Priti’s lawyer Soniya Miskin told the court that Priti has given an application to the commissioner of police,Thane to transfer the case to the crime branch.

Justice Desai after making note of this observed that the police have no imagination.

“Be a little more innovative” in your investigation,Justice Desai said.

The court had expressed unhappiness after the police informed that they are yet to get any clue about the whereabouts of the father and the child.

“You cannot shield him,” Justice Desai had said after observing that the absconder was in the power loom business in Bhiwandi and should be accessible in one way or the other.

The court was also informed that Bunty had married another woman and bailable warrants have been issued against him. Police informed the court that the woman was questioned,but did not have any knowledge of Bunty’s whereabouts.

Priti now fears that he might leave the country with her child as he has connections in Dubai and Germany.