'Cops Build Larger Than Life Image While Dodging Duty': Allahabad HC Slams Police Over Missing Varanasi Man

The Allahabad High Court has cautioned that police officials could be held personally accountable if their negligence in abduction cases results in a victim’s death.

Court was hearing a writ petition filed by one Nitesh Kumar, whose brother has been missing since March 31, 2025, allegedly after being abducted in Varanasi.

The division bench of Justice J.J. Munir and Justice Anil Kumar expressed concern over what it described as a disturbing trend—police inaction in cases involving missing persons.

“This is not the first case since morning where missing persons have not been traced,” the bench remarked, noting that the police seem to insulate themselves from public accountability by projecting an inflated self-image.

"We notice that the police are carving out a larger than life image for themselves shielding themselves from receiving and attending to public grievances," court noted.

The FIR in the case was registered on April 3, 2025, but as of June 4, the victim remained untraced. The judges took strong exception to this delay, stating that if a kidnapped person is not found promptly and the situation turns fatal, then the officer in charge of the concerned jurisdiction may be held responsible.

“The police generally exhibit apathy in such matters because no personal responsibility is fixed upon the officers, in consequence of whose inaction an abduction turns into a murder,” the bench noted.

“If, in consequence of an abductee not being traced out in good time, the victim is killed, the responsibility, prima facie, has to be fixed upon the head of the police under whose jurisdiction the report of abduction or kidnapping was made and later had fatal consequences because the victim was not recovered,” court held.

In the present case, court directed the Commissioner of Police, Varanasi, to personally file an affidavit by June 12, 2025, explaining the delay in recovering the missing individual.

Notices have been issued to all respondents. The Registrar (Compliance) was directed to ensure that the order is communicated immediately.

The case will now be taken up again on June 12, where the bench is expected to closely examine the affidavits and determine the next course of action.

Case Title: Nitesh Kumar Informant vs State of UP and 3 Others