HC seeks status report in minor girl's 'kidnapping' case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the police to file a status report in the case of kidnapping of a minor girl, in which the accused are said to be related to a BJP leader.
Justice Lisa Gill has sought the report after hearing a petition filed by the 17-year-old girl's mother and one more petitioner.
The petition was filed on June 1 and the court on the previous date of hearing had sought the statement copy of the girl recorded under Section 164 of the CrPc.
The girl was warned against making any statement against the accused, the petitioners have alleged.

The petitioners in this case alleged that that police were not taking action against the four accused, because two of them "are related to Tohana MLA (and BJP state chief) Subhash Barala".
The court said that status report of the investigation of the case has to be filed by August 31.

The petitioners said that the FIR in the matter was registered on May 8 for kidnapping and another offence at Tohana police station in Fatehabad district. The minor girl from Bidhai Khera village alleged that one of the accused of the same village had abducted her in pursuance to a conspiracy with the other accused.

The petitioners claimed the girl was recovered by the police a day after the incident and taken to Bhuna police station, while the matter came under the jurisdiction of Tohana police station.
The girl's brother was accompanying her while she was being taken to the area magistrate for recording of statement, but police allegedly forced him to alight from the vehicle, it has been alleged in the petition.
It has also been alleged that she was threatened with dire consequences if she made a statement against the accused.
"She was scared and was influenced by the accused. Hence she made a statement that she left the house on her own due to family problem," the petition added.