CBI Takes Charge: Unraveling the Mystery of Missing Haridwar Priest

The Uttarakhand High Court has transferred the investigation of a missing priest from Haridwar to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This decision follows an eight-year-long unresolved case that involved multiple failed attempts by state agencies to uncover the mystery.

The priest, Mahant Mohandas, disappeared mysteriously in 2017 while traveling from Haridwar to Mumbai. His absence became apparent at Bhopal Railway Station when a disciple discovered his seat empty. Despite several petitions and reinvestigations ordered by various judicial authorities, the case remained unsolved.

Concerns were raised by Justice Pankaj Purohit over the ineffective state investigations, leading to the court's directive for the CBI to take charge. The court also instructed the state government to hand over all investigative records to the central agency. This transfer aims to achieve a resolution to a case that has distressed both the judiciary and community for years.