Couple from Malwani held after niece, 12, goes missing in Mumbai

MUMBAI: A Malwani-based couple has been arrested by the police on charges of kidnapping, more than a month after their niece went missing. Police is still investigating the case to establish the whereabouts of the girl.
The 12-year-old girl and her nine-year-old brother were living with accused, Sandesh Hadal and Jyoti Hadal, since the demise of their parents two years ago. On April 20th, the couple approached the Malwani police with a complaint that their niece who is a class eighth student was missing. They claimed that she didn't return from school and couldn't find her anywhere. However, the police found no evidence that the girl even went to the school that day.
The cops later learnt that an altercation had broken out at the couple's home on April 19 and the girl was beaten up with a piece of wood, after which she sustained serious injuries. When the couple rushed her to the doctor in Madh, they were told that she needed to be admitted to the hospital as her condition was serious.
When the police spoke to the doctor, he told them that when he met the couple a few days after they had brought the girl to him, they replied she was doing okay. However, when the police questioned the couple, they denied thrashing her or taking her to a doctor, and insisted she didn't returned home from school.
They were arrested for misguiding the police with false information. The police are now looking for the girl with the help of informants and technical analysis. "We cannot be sure whether she is still alive. The couple hasn't been cooperating in the probe," an officer said.