Rajasthan CBI Rescues Minor Girl Kidnapped from West Bengal Two Years Ago

PTI,  New Delhi, Aug 9, 2025 :  The CBI has rescued a minor girl from Pali, Rajasthan, who was allegedly kidnapped from Bardhaman, West Bengal, two years ago. She had been 'sold' twice under the pretext of marriage, officials confirmed on Saturday.

The CBI arrested five individuals in connection with the case and suspects that the kidnapping was part of a larger human trafficking network.

The girl, who was abducted on August 9, 2023, after leaving home for a tuition class, was found living at the residence of one of the accused in Pali.

The Calcutta High Court had ordered the CBI’s involvement in the case on February 16, 2024, following a plea from the victim’s mother. Initially, the investigation was handled by the West Bengal CID, but it was transferred to the CBI due to concerns over the girl's safety and the suspicious nature of her disappearance.

The CBI developed intelligence through sources and call data record (CDR) analysis, which led investigators to Rajasthan. A CBI team conducted a raid in Pali on August 7, where the girl was residing, officials said.

"The investigation revealed that the missing girl was a minor at the time of her disappearance and was falsely depicted as an adult in affidavits created for her marriage. She was sold twice for marriage. It is suspected that this case is part of a larger human trafficking operation," a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

The CBI arrested five suspects, who were produced before a special court in Pali on Friday. The court remanded them to three days of transit custody, after which they will be presented before the District and Sessions Judge in Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal.