GOUTAM PATRA Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A criminal investigation was set in motion on receipt of the FIR dtd. 6/3/2011 lodged by Smt. Anuradha Sardar wife of Sri Haripada Sardar of village Neruli Abad, District North 24 Parganas with the officer in-charge of Minakhan Police Station alleging inter alia that the marriage of her daughter/prosecutrix aged about 17 years was settled and preparations for the same were almost completed. The date of marriage was fixed on 22nd Falgun, 1417 B.S.

(2.) Amidst such scenario on 1/3/2011, the prosecutrix was going to visit the house of her elder sister namely Purabi Halder at North Singur Village under Police Station Sonarpur, District South 24 Parganas. The prosecutrix was accompanied by her brother Jayprakash who took the prosecutrix to Neruli Hatkhola at about 3 p.m. on that day. Thereafter, prosecutrix boarded on an Engine/motor van at Neruli, Hatkhola in presence of Jayprakash in order to go to Malancha. From there she was to take a bus in order to go to her elder sister's house at Uttar Singur Village.

(3.) At night, on that day the informant called her elder daughter over telephone and to her utter despair she came to know that the prosecutrix did not reach the house of Purabi, her elder daughter. After getting this information the complainant started searching for prosecutrix but to no avail. Thereafter, she lodged a general diary being G.D Entry no. 161 dtd. 3/3/2011 at Minakhan Police Station regarding the said missing of her daughter. It was further alleged firmly that the accused had kidnapped her minor daughter and forcefully confined her in a house.