CBI asked to probe minors’ trafficking by placement agency

NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court Friday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations that the owner of a placement agency here was involved in trafficking of minor girls across the country.

A division bench of Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Ajit Bharihoke directed the CBI to investigate the matter and said: “Considering the gravity of the issue and also the fact that it has inter-state ramifications, we are of the opinion that it would be appropriate if investigation of this case is conducted by the CBI.”

The court was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed March 29 by a girl’s father, Nepal Sardar, who alleged his daughter had gone missing.

He feared his daughter, who came here in January from West Bengal for working in a placement agency, had become a victim of illegal trafficking.

Taking note of the serious allegations, the court directed police to trace and present the girl before it.

After the girl was traced by police, she alleged that the placement agency supplied minor girls for marriages through illegal trafficking.

The girl named Sunil Kumar Jha and his wife Jhalki Devi for the alleged trafficking.

She alleged girls were supplied to people in Punjab, Lucknow, Chandigarh and Dehradun.

The girl also narrated how she worked at the house of Jha for four months and was then handed over to four people. Later, her marriage was solemnized with one of them.