CFSL report links recovered skeleton to missing Bokaro teen

PNS

Ranchi

A forensic report from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Kolkata, has provided a significant breakthrough in the case of 18-year-old Pushpa Kumari, who went missing from Bokaro district nearly 11 months ago.

During a hearing on Thursday, the Jharkhand High Court was informed that DNA extracted from a tooth of the skeletal remains recovered during the investigation matched Pushpa’s DNA profile. However, forensic experts have not yet fully matched the DNA of the entire skeleton with that of her parents.

Pushpa, a resident of the Pindrajora police station area, went missing on July 31, 2025. After prolonged efforts to trace her failed, her mother, Rekha Devi, moved the High Court through a habeas corpus petition seeking her daughter’s recovery.

Police arrested Dinesh Kumar Mahto during the investigation. According to investigators, he confessed to killing Pushpa, leading police to a site where a human skeleton was recovered. However, Pushpa’s family has consistently disputed the claim that the remains belong to her.

Following the High Court’s direction, DNA samples from the skeleton and Pushpa’s family members were sent to CFSL for examination. Members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) were present in court when the findings were presented.

The High Court sought details of proceedings pending before the lower court and asked the state government to report on action taken against police personnel accused of negligence in the investigation. The court also directed authorities to complete the panchnama and other legal formalities related to the recovered remains. The matter will be heard further.