
The Patna High Court has ordered a CBI investigation into the disappearance of Sanoj Kumar, a centring mason who went missing after being detained by excise police in Bihar's Bhojpur district on…
The Patna High Court has ordered a CBI investigation into the disappearance of Sanoj Kumar, a centring mason who went missing after being detained by excise police in Bihar's Bhojpur district on August 13, 2025. In its August 7 order, a division bench found the state police probe biased and lacking urgency, noting that several excise officials were suspects.

Kumar's father, Gauri Shankar Ram, had moved the court after police claimed his son jumped from a vehicle and fled. The court observed that the vehicle's doors were closed from outside, making escape impossible, and that officials repeatedly changed their statements. The CBI must submit an action-taken report by the next hearing on September 11.
This case fuels the narrative of routine police brutality and cover-up in Bihar. But the court's detailed order, pointing to changed statements, untested witnesses, and a physically implausible escape claim, shows judicial scrutiny working as intended. The real test will be whether the CBI probe moves faster than the state's year-long inaction. Watch for the action-taken report due September 11: will it name those responsible for what happened to Sanoj Kumar?
Sources (2): hindustantimes.com, indiatoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.