Jharkhand Court Orders DNA Test in Missing Girl Case

In a significant development, the Jharkhand High Court on Monday, May 5, 2026, mandated the collection of DNA samples from the parents of an 18-year-old girl who has been missing from Bokaro since July 2025. The samples are to be taken at AIIMS Deoghar this Wednesday, May 6, addressing doubts surrounding skeletal remains identified by police as the victim's.

The court, presided over by Justices Sujit Narayan Prasad and Sanjay Prasad, criticized the investigative lag, particularly the delay in DNA testing despite an earlier court order on April 17. Advocate Vincent Marki, representing the girl's mother, informed the bench that the skeletal remains would be transferred from RIMS to AIIMS and then sent to CFSL Kolkata for forensic analysis. The court also scheduled the next hearing for May 14.

The investigation into Pushpa Kumari Mahto's disappearance intensified after accused Dinesh Kumar Mahto's confession led police to skeletal remains behind Chas College. However, the family's counsel disputes the police's claims, arguing the skeleton appears older than the nine months since the girl went missing and was found in a public area.

The High Court has previously flagged police negligence, noting a ten-day delay in registering the FIR after the initial report on July 21, 2025. While 28 police personnel were suspended for dereliction of duty, the bench deemed this insufficient, questioning the lack of accountability for senior officers. A post-mortem report from RIMS Ranchi has been completed and will be submitted in a sealed cover, with the DNA report expected to provide crucial identification by the May 14 hearing.