No need for CBI probe in Jesna case, rules Kerala HC

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has dismissed a petition seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the disappearance of college student Jesna Maria James.

'The police are probing the case in detail. There is no need to pass it on to another agency at this stage', the court said rejecting a petition submitted by Jesna's brother Jais John James and Kerala Students Union leaders Abhijit.

The court will hear the case again on August 17.

Jesna, 20, hailing from Mukkottuthara in Pathanamthitta disappeared on March 22 while she was travelling to her aunt's house in Punchavayal near Mundakayam in Kottayam.

The police informed the court that a sim card found in the copy of the Bible Jesna had been using will be scrutinised. Her family had found the card on June 3.

Police inquiry is on whether the girl was using any other mobile number apart from her known number.

The sim cards used by Jesna's brother, sister and a classmate are under scrutiny.

Phone calls to nearly 400 numbers have been scanned in detail and there had been many inter-state calls in the area as the sabarimala season was on.

'Inquiries made on the basis of CCTV visuals of girls resembling Jesna were also not fruitful. The police have questioned 350 people and recorded the statements of 170. Over two lakh phone calls were checked. We are carrying out an elaborate, well organised probe considering the sensational nature of the case,' the police said.