Missing Man in Lucknow Since April 2025: Allahabad High Court Warns UP Home Secretary of Personal Appearance

The Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench, has directed the State authorities to place on record further progress in the investigation into the disappearance of a man who went missing along with his vehicle from the state capital in April 2025, warning that the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Government of Uttar Pradesh, will have to appear in person if compliance is not made.

The order was passed by a division bench comprising Justice Abdul Moin and Justice Babita Rani while hearing a writ petition filed by one Sairun Nisha.

The petition pertains to a person who allegedly went missing on April 22, 2025, from the State capital along with his vehicle. According to the record, a missing person report was lodged on April 23, 2025. However, despite the passage of time, the individual has not yet been traced.

During the hearing, a personal affidavit filed by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Government of Uttar Pradesh, was taken on record by the court. The affidavit stated that an eight-member team had been constituted to investigate the case. The team was headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police and was formed pursuant to an order dated February 5, 2026. 

The state’s counsel submitted that the investigation is being pursued with urgency. It was also stated that regular updates would be provided to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (West), Lucknow.

Seeking time to place further developments before the court, the state requested three weeks to file another personal affidavit of the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), indicating the progress made in the matter. The bench allowed the request.

Court, however, made it clear that if the personal affidavit is not filed within the granted time, the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) shall appear in person before the court along with the relevant records to assist in the proceedings.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on March 17, 2026.

On January 7, the high court had observed that more than eight months had passed since the disappearance, yet the individual remained untraced. It had expressed concern over the lack of results, particularly given that the incident took place in Lucknow, the state capital of Uttar Pradesh.

The bench had observed that it was “rather strange” that a person could go missing from a city equipped with CCTV cameras on all major roads and chaurahas and still not be traced after such a long period. 

Terming the matter as serious, the high court had decided to seek an explanation from the highest level of the state’s home administration. Thereofre, it had directed the Principal Secretary (Home), Government of Uttar Pradesh, to file a personal affidavit explaining why, despite the lapse of over eight months and the extensive CCTV infrastructure in the state capital, the missing person could not be traced.

Case Title: Smt. Sairun Nisha vs. State Of U.P. Thru. Secy. Home Lko. And Another

Order Date: February 12, 2026

Bench: Justices Abdul Moin and Babita Rani