Child Found Safely in Pali, Rajasthan, Nearly a Year After Disappearance; Five Individuals Detained
In a significant breakthrough, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has rescued a minor girl who went missing from Bardhaman, West Bengal, over two years ago. The girl, who was sold twice for illegal marriages, was found in Pali, Rajasthan, following an extensive investigation.
The girl disappeared on August 9, 2023, while going for tuition and did not return. Initial investigations by local police and the West Bengal CID were unsuccessful. However, a petition from the girl's mother to the Calcutta High Court led to the transfer of the case to the CBI in February 2024.
The CBI gathered intelligence from phone call records and sources, locating the girl at a suspect’s residence in Pali in early August 2025. Five accused—Bharat Kumar, Jagdish Kumar, Mena Dapuben, Rata Ram, and Dilip Kumar—were arrested and placed under judicial custody in Pali before their transfer to West Bengal for further proceedings.
The investigation revealed that the girl was shown as a major in affidavits created for her marriage, despite being a minor at the time of her disappearance. The case could be linked to a larger human trafficking network, as suspected by the CBI.
The five suspects were produced in the Court of Judicial Magistrate, Marwad Junction, District Pali, Rajasthan, on August 9, 2025. The Court granted Transit Remand for three days for the production of all accused persons before the Court of Additional District & Sessions Judge at Purba Bardhaman in West Bengal.
This case is a significant example of child trafficking linked to illegal marriage rackets, with forged legal affidavits used to disguise the victim's minor status, enabling their exploitation. The CBI continues probing to dismantle the broader trafficking network involved.
References:
[1] CBI rescues minor girl from Rajasthan, two years after she went missing from West Bengal. The Indian Express. (2025, August 10). Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/cbi-rescues-minor-girl-from-rajasthan-two-years-after-she-went-missing-from-west-bengal-7985060/
[2] CBI arrests five in connection with missing girl case linked to human trafficking network. The Times of India. (2025, August 10). Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/cbi-arrests-five-in-connection-with-missing-girl-case-linked-to-human-trafficking-network/articleshow/91432065.cms
[3] CBI finds girl was sold twice for marriage in human trafficking case. Hindustan Times. (2025, August 10). Retrieved from https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/kolkata-news/cbi-finds-girl-was-sold-twice-for-marriage-in-human-trafficking-case-101631568305280.html
[4] CBI rescues minor girl from Rajasthan, five arrested in connection with human trafficking case. NDTV. (2025, August 10). Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cbi-rescues-minor-girl-from-rajasthan-five-arrested-in-connection-with-human-trafficking-case-3323045
In light of this investigation, the CBI's intervention in the general-news sector has shed light on a complex human trafficking network operating under the guise of crime-and-justice in India. The rescue of a minor girl sold twice for illegal marriages underscores the urgency for stricter measures in politics to combat such atrocities and protect the innocent.
