KOCHI: At a time when cases of missing children have been creating ripples in different platforms, including social media, a case file pertaining to the missing of seven-year-old Rahul from Alappuzha has been gathering dust.Six years after the incident, the investigating agency is still groping in the dark. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is yet to unfold the mystery surrounding the incident which occurred in 2005.Rahul, son of Mini and Raju, went missing on May 18, 2005, when he was playing cricket with his friends near his house in Ashramam Ward. The local police and the Crime Branch failed to trace him and the case was handed over to the CBI.The CBI took over the inquiry on June 14, 2005, and questioned various people including his neighbours. On March 28, 2009, the CBI approached the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court and informed that, “in spite of all efforts made, the boy Rahul, remained untraceable.” To this, the Magistrate replied that it was premature for the CBI, which is the prime investigating agency, to throw up its arms in despair, especially in a case which is sensational in nature. The court declined to accept the CBI report and ordered further investigation in 2009. Despite the court order, there was no communication from the CBI, a court official said.Rahul, then a second standard student, had gone to drink water from a public tap in the corner of the playground where he was playing. The CBI in its closure report pointed out that the involvement of Monichan, a neighbour, was verified and then ruled out. Meanwhile, Rahul’s father received an anonymous letter stating that the child was taken to Thodupuzha for extracting his kidney. However, it was found false after verifying the hospital records.Based on media report, a boy similar to Rahul was seen begging in Mumbai. The CBI verified the information, but nothing fruitful came out. The CBI then announced a reward of `50,000 for any information leading to the tracing of Rahul and was publicised in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Mumbai. In spite of all these no clue has come from any quarters. Meanwhile, the involvement of Rojo George, who was near the play- ground on that day was suspected. He underwent brain mapping and polygraph test. The test suggested his active participation, and a case was registered against him. On the basis of this, he was subjected to narco-analysis test. During the test he revealed that Rahul was kidnapped and taken to Mumbai by train. He denied that the child was murdered. Based on those revelations a detailed investigation was conducted, but no evidence came to light to prove his involvement, the CBI pointed out in its final report. The mystery surrounding the disappearance of the boy still remains.
Comments
0 comment