Habeas corpus petition by father seeking production of his daughter who went missing along with a boy. Police investigation, including Crime Branch involvement and Reddit/Google cooperation directives, led to the couple being traced in Lucknow. The girl returned with her family; petition disposed.
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* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ W.P.(CRL) 2280/2024
PAWAN KUMAR .....Petitioner Through: Mr. R.L. Chowdhary, Adv. for petitioner no.1 alongwith Petitioner No.1 alongwith his wife in person. Mr. Pradeep Kumar Arya, Mr. Aditya Kumar Yadav, Mr. Prateek Chhikara, Mr. Gaurav Chaudhary, Mr. Arpit Bamal & Mr. Chitvan Sharma, Advs. for petitioner no.2 and 3 alongwith petitioner no.2 in person.
versus
STATE OF NCT OF DELHI THROUGH ITS SECRETARY & ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Sanjay Lao, Standing Counsel (Crl.) for the State with Ms. Priyam Aggarwal & Mr. Abhinav Kr. Arya, Advs. Insp. Virender Kumar, HC Anuj & W/HC Sukanya, AHTU Crime, Rohini Delhi. The girl and boy in person.
CORAM: JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUSTICE AMIT SHARMA
O R D E R % 13.09.2024
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W.P.(CRL) 2280/2024
This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 04/07/2025 at 04:35:20
writ in the nature of habeas corpus to produce his daughter, who is studying B.Sc, Zoology (Hons.) in Hansraj College, University of Delhi.
“15. The Court is of the opinion that Respondent Nos. 9 to 12 are not required to be impleaded in the present petition have had no role to play in the disappearance of the girl, accordingly, they are deleted from the array of parties. If, however, the missing girl or boy contacts them, they agree to provide the information to the sister of the boy i.e., Respondent No. 8 who may then transmit the same to the Police.
16. The Police, and the Petitioners or the family members of the girl shall not contact the friends of the girl anymore or level any allegations against them. Henceforth, both the family of the girl and the boy shall work together to trace the boy and girl, so
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W.P.(CRL) 2280/2024
This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 04/07/2025 at 04:35:20
that their safety and security is not compromised in any manner.
17. The Police shall continue to conduct the investigation and file a fresh Status Report by the next date of hearing.
18. From the facts gathered, it is clear that even the grandmother and sister are concerned about the whereabouts of the boy and the grandmother has herself filed a complaint before Noida Police. Therefore, it is deemed appropriate to transpose Respondent Nos. 7 and 8 as Petitioners in this matter. Let a fresh memo of parties be filed by the next date of hearing.”
“3. Further, an additional status report dated 22nd August 2024 has been handed over in Court today stating that queries given to Reddit Inc. have gone unanswered, and a reminder has also been sent. Reddit is an established social media application, which is used extensively worldwide as also in India. As per the prevalent laws, it ought to have appointed a Grievance Officer in terms of Rule 3(2) Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics) Rules, 2021.
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W.P.(CRL) 2280/2024
This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 04/07/2025 at 04:35:20
4. Considering, the fact that Reddit has not responded to the queries of the concerned authorities in this matter, in which an attempt of the Court is to trace the missing girl and boy, the Department of Telecommunications (“DoT”) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (“MeitY”) shall contact concerned personnel of Reddit in India, and obtain details of the posts, which the missing boy and girl appear to have uploaded on the Reddit platform.
5. For the said purpose, Reddit’s officials may contact the concerned IO in the present case i.e., SI Sahil, PS Karol Bagh (M:7838282790) or Mr. Sanjay Lao, ld. Standing Counsel for the State (M:9818166809).”
7. Accordingly, let the investigation be transferred to the Crime Branch, Delhi Police as the last location of the girl and boy appears to be in the State of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
8. The Investigating Officer is directed to transfer the Police file along with the entire record and any other information which may be relevant or
W.P.(CRL) 2280/2024
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This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 04/07/2025 at 04:35:20
received by him to the concerned Officer of Crime Branch within 48 hours from today.
9. The Crime Branch shall look into the matter seriously and conduct diligent investigation and make an endeavour to produce the girl and boy. 10. Officer of the rank of ACP shall supervise the investigation with a special team.
11. Let a status report be filed by the Crime Branch regarding the steps to be taken by them to trace the couple by the next date of hearing.
12. In addition, MeitY shall direct Reddit Inc to provide the details of the grievance officer in India along with the contact details and email address on its website so that if any law enforcement agency needs to contact them, the details of the concerned grievance officer is available.”
W.P.(CRL) 2280/2024
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This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 04/07/2025 at 04:35:20
areas in Tamil Nadu and in Pondicherry for a period of 6 days, during which a lead was received that they were present Lucknow. Accordingly, the team then reached Lucknow, UP and in the area of Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, both of them were traced and were detained. They also did not cooperate with the police and repeatedly changed their versions.
W.P.(CRL) 2280/2024
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This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 04/07/2025 at 04:35:20
AHTU, Crime Branch, Rohini, Delhi as also to the IO, SI Sahil, PS Karol Bagh, Delhi Police, for the incessant efforts in tracing out the girl and the boy. 14. Next date of hearing shall stand cancelled.
PRATHIBA M. SINGH, J
AMIT SHARMA, J
SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 nk/pr/ks
W.P.(CRL) 2280/2024
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This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 04/07/2025 at 04:35:20
2 issues framed by the court
Could the missing girl be traced and produced through habeas corpus proceedings?
What directions were needed to social media platforms to assist in tracing the missing couple?
3 provisions across 3 enactments
Pawan Kumar
State of NCT of Delhi through its Secretary
Prathiba M. Singh
Amit Sharma
As recorded by the court registry
A constitutional writ petition in a criminal context, most commonly habeas corpus or a challenge to an FIR or detention order.
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
