Full Text
HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Date of Decision: 3rd November,2025
VIPIN KATARIYA & ANR. .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Udit Kr. Thakur & Ms. Monika, Advocates
Through: Mr. Sanjay Lao, Standing Counsel (Crl) for State
SI Vinod Kumar, PS, Palam Village
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ JAIN
JUDGMENT
1. Present petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with Section 528 B.N.S.S., 2023 and petitioner, inter alia, seeks directions in the nature of Habeas Corpus to the respondents to produce his missing wife i.e. Ms. Aarti.
2. The brief facts of the case are that on 21.02.2025, petitioner’s wife, aged 27 years, left her residence to meet someone and did not return thereafter. Petitioner tried his best to search for her but it was of no avail. Thereafter, on 22.02.2025, the petitioner approached Police Station where DD No. 59A at Palam Village, New Delhi regarding his missing wife was registered.
3. As per the status report, it is submitted that FIR No. 606/2025 for offence punishable under Section 140(3) BNS, 2023 has been registered at Police Station Palam Village, Delhi and active investigation is on. W.P.(CRL) 2215/2025 2
4. As per the status report, search of missing wife of petitioner was concluded by the team of NCRB, SCRB, CBI and the photographs of missing wife of petitioner were also published in English and Hindi newspaper for general public and the search was also made to nearby shelter home, asharam, temple, dharamshala but there is no clue, so far. The information available on ZIPNET was also checked but no clue could be ascertained.
5. In light of the aforesaid and since all possible efforts to trace out the missing wife of petitioner have been made and the FIR is pending investigation, we hereby dispose of the present writ petition directing the concerned SHO/IO to file monthly status report before the concerned learned Judicial Magistrate, with advance copy to petitioner and, if any, clue is found about the wife of the petitioner, the same be communicated forthwith to the petitioner.
6. The SHO of the concerned Police Station is also further directed to transfer the case to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), Crime Branch and the said Branch is directed to file a status report, as indicated above, before the concerned Judicial Magistrate.
7. With directions as aforesaid, the petition is disposed of.
(VIVEK CHAUDHARY) JUDGE (MANOJ JAIN)
JUDGE NOVEMBER 3, 2025/dr/js