GEEVARGHESE B. Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By way of this Petition, the Petitioner seeks a direction to the Respondent Nos.1 to 5 to produce the relevant documents pertaining to the investigation conducted by the local police in a complaint regarding disappearance of his son. He also seeks a direction to the Respondent Nos.1 to 5 to register an FIR in regard to his missing son and for transfer of the investigation to an independent special agency to trace his son.

(2.) By order dtd. 4/7/2023, the learned APP representing the State requested for time to file her report. However, she stated that the police have recorded statements of approximately 28 witnesses, but had not found any evidence against the Respondent No.7 who is suspected of foul play by the Petitioner. The matter was listed from time to time and the State has placed on record its Affidavit detailing the steps taken by it in the course of investigation and its findings. The Respondent Nos.6 and 7, officials of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation ('ONGC') have also filed their Affidavits. The Petitioner has filed his rejoinder and has also placed on record a list of areas which, according to him, were required to be investigated by a special investigating agency.

(3.) The facts in the case are unfortunate. It is the case of the Petitioner that his elder son-Enos Varghese, an Electrical Engineer was working with the Respondent No.7 as 'System Protection Engineer' since June 2022. Respondent No.7 was working on a Maintenance Contract of Respondent No.6 at their Offshore Installation on the high seas of the Mumbai Coast. On 24/2/2023, Enos called the Petitioner at 9:17 a.m. and informed him that his work at the rig was over and he was going to the Mumbai shore. However, on the same date, at 11:55 p.m., Manager-Kamlesh telephoned the Petitioner informing him that Enos was missing from the workplace from 7:00 p.m. on that date. The Petitioner rushed to Mumbai. According to him, Enos faced serious threats and danger from the Respondent No.7. He learnt this by accessing a Skype conversation between Enos and his colleague Mr. Ajit. The Petitioner then filed a complaint with Respondent No.3 Police Station. His younger son was informed by Respondent No.7 that Enos had jumped into the sea. The Petitioner had also made a complaint to the Chief Minister of Kerala, Kerala State Human Rights Commission, National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi, DGP, Kerala and other officials. He also made a grievance on the Centralized Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System website to the Prime Minster of India. The information about his missing son was also reported in newspapers of Mumbai and Kerala.