Charge sheet file missing for almost 20 yrs

SHILLONG: A file related to the charge sheet on the death of a woman in a dowry case in the city has gone missing from police records since 1997.
The crime took place in 1995 and the case was charge-sheeted two years later.
Sources said on Saturday that the matter came to light when the accused, who is currently in Guwahati, and the brother of the deceased woman, sought the status of the case through RTI applications recently from Meghalaya police.
Sources said when the RTI applications were taken up for consideration, the views of the CID was that the charge sheet was filed in the case, whereas the district police maintained that the case has been pending.
What complicated the situation is that the investigation officer, who was probing the case for CID, passed away leaving no trace of the copy of the charge sheet.
Sources added that now the police are left with no other option but to order an inquiry into the matter to know the truth as two opinions have emerged on the case.