Spent Rs 65k bill for cops’ Goa trip to find missing wife, claims MP man

Bhopal: In a bizarre incident, a man alleged he was made to spend Rs 65,000 to fund a police ‘search trip’ to Goa to trace his missing wife, prompting Satna police to remove two constables from active duty and send them to police lines pending inquiry.

The 30-year-old woman, mother of three including a 3-year-old, was reported missing at Civil Lines police station on March 12. Her husband claimed little initial progress despite registering the complaint, and was later told by a policeman that her location was traced to Goa, prompting the ‘search trip’.

The complainant alleged he bore the entire travel expense of Rs 65,000 but the constables neither found his wife nor landed any concrete leads on her whereabouts.

He claimed he was pressured again for funds for another Goa trip. He also lodged a complaint on CM helpline, stating he has been struggling to care for his children in his wife’s absence.

Satna SP Hansraj Singh told TOI that a probe has been ordered, adding that the deputy SP has been asked to investigate and submit a report. “Both constables have been removed from active duty pending investigation,” he said.

Police sources, however, said the woman’s location was found to be in Goa, along with that of a missing minor girl. “Teams were going to search for the minor when her location popped up. The complainant was asked to accompany the team, along with his relatives,” a source said.

They said the constable found the minor girl and a youth with her the next day, but returned as they couldn’t find the complainant’s wife, adding that the latter stayed a few more days with his relatives before returning.