CBI Takes Over 2012 Missing Case of Keralam Rifleman

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation into the disappearance of a man from Ernakulam district in Keralam who went missing while travelling by train in April 2012. The 27-year-old, Subhash Chandra Bose, was serving as a rifleman in the Tripura State Rifles when he disappeared while returning to his workplace after leave.

The transfer follows a direction from the Kerala High Court last month on a petition filed by Bose’s father, P K Balan, seeking a fresh investigation into his son’s disappearance. The CBI has now registered the case and will investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance, which has remained unresolved for more than 14 years.

CBI Registers FIR After Kerala High Court Order

According to officials, the CBI Special Crime Branch filed a re-registered First Information Report (FIR) before the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on October 28. The agency has been directed to investigate both the case initially registered by the Ernakulam Railway Police and the subsequent case handled by the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Visakhapatnam.

The High Court’s order came after Bose’s father approached it through a petition seeking the CBI’s intervention. The two earlier investigations had been conducted by railway police in different states because Bose disappeared during a train journey from Kerala towards the northeastern state of Tripura.

The transfer brings the two missing-person cases under the investigation of a central agency. The CBI is expected to examine the available records and circumstances surrounding Bose’s journey, his last known communication with his family and the findings of the earlier police investigations.

Who Was Subhash Chandra Bose?

Subhash Chandra Bose was a native of Vengoor in Ernakulam district and served as a rifleman in the Third Battalion of the Tripura State Rifles. He had reportedly been working with the force for seven years before his disappearance in April 2012.

At the time, Bose was 27 years old and was returning to his unit in Tripura after spending leave with his family in Kerala. His workplace was in Dhalai district, where he was expected to resume his duties after completing the journey.

His disappearance came to light when he failed to report to his unit. His family subsequently approached the railway police, beginning an investigation that involved authorities in both Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

Bose Disappeared During Train Journey to Tripura in April 2012

According to the CBI’s FIR, Bose boarded the Ernakulam-Guwahati Express at Ernakulam Junction at approximately 9.20 pm on April 3, 2012. He was travelling on a general ticket because he did not have a reserved seat.

His father, P K Balan, accompanied him to the railway station and boarded the train with him before getting down at Aluva. Before separating, Bose reportedly told his father that he would try to arrange a seat with the help of the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE).

At that point, there was no indication that the journey would become the last time his family would hear from him for an extended period.

Last Phone Calls to Family Before He Went Missing

Officials said Bose spoke to his mother over the phone on April 4, 2012, and informed her that he had reached Andhra Pradesh. The communication suggested that he was continuing his journey towards Tripura.

He contacted his family again the following day. During the conversation, he reportedly said that his mobile phone recharge balance was running low. He told his family that he would get in touch after reaching his workplace.

However, no further calls came from Bose. His family was unable to establish contact with him, and he did not arrive at his unit in Tripura as expected.

On April 10, 2012, the family learnt that Bose had not reported for duty at the Third Battalion of the Tripura State Rifles in Dhalai district. His failure to reach the workplace raised concerns about his whereabouts and prompted his family to approach the authorities.

Father Filed Missing Person Complaint in Ernakulam

After learning that his son had not joined duty, Balan lodged a complaint at the Ernakulam Railway Police Station on April 13, 2012. The railway police registered a missing-person case and began investigating the disappearance.

During the investigation, officials found that Bose had last been seen alive at Visakhapatnam Railway Station in Andhra Pradesh. This information shifted the focus of the investigation towards the railway station where he was reportedly last sighted.

The case was subsequently transferred to the Government Railway Police in Visakhapatnam. The GRP re-registered it as a missing-person case on October 15, 2012.

With the disappearance involving a train journey across multiple states, the investigation came to involve railway police authorities in both Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Despite the earlier inquiries, Bose’s whereabouts remained unknown.

High Court Directs CBI to Investigate Both Railway Police Cases

The Kerala High Court directed the CBI to take over the investigations into both the Ernakulam Railway Police case and the Visakhapatnam GRP case. The order followed the petition filed by Bose’s father, who sought the central agency’s intervention in the long-pending matter.

The direction requires the CBI to examine the two connected cases rather than limiting its investigation to the initial complaint registered in Kerala. This is significant because Bose’s last known location was reported to be Visakhapatnam, where the second missing-person case had been registered.

The CBI’s Special Crime Branch subsequently registered the case afresh and submitted the FIR to the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on October 28.

What Happens Next in the 2012 Disappearance Case?

The CBI’s takeover marks a new stage in the investigation into Bose’s disappearance. The agency will have to examine the circumstances of his journey, the phone conversations with his family, his reported sighting at Visakhapatnam Railway Station and the records of the earlier police inquiries.

The sequence of events provides several points for investigators to examine, including Bose’s departure from Ernakulam on April 3, his last reported communication on April 5 and his failure to report for duty by April 10, 2012.

The involvement of railway police in two states also makes the examination of available records and coordination between the earlier investigating authorities important parts of the case.

As of the information provided by officials, Bose’s whereabouts remain unknown. The CBI’s investigation is expected to examine the unanswered questions surrounding his disappearance and establish what happened after he was last seen alive at Visakhapatnam Railway Station.