A court in Thiruvananthapuram has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to reopen the investigation into the disappearance of Kerala woman Jesna Maria James. Jesna, a 20-year-old college student, went missing in 2018 after boarding a bus from Erumeli town in Pathanamthitta district to visit her aunt’s house. Despite investigations by the Kerala police department, the state Crime Branch, and subsequently the CBI, her whereabouts remain unknown.
The Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Thiruvananthapuram acted on a petition filed by Jesna’s father, who presented new evidence for consideration. After reviewing the fresh proof, the court ordered the CBI to conduct a fresh probe into the case.
Jesna's disappearance on March 22, 2018, prompted her father to file a complaint at Vechoochira police station. Subsequent investigations were conducted by local police, the district police chief, and a special team before the case was transferred to the Crime Branch in October 2018. Despite these efforts, the mystery surrounding Jesna's disappearance persisted.
The case was eventually handed over to the CBI in February 2021 by the Kerala High Court. Over the course of their investigation, the CBI examined numerous witnesses and explored various locations across multiple states. However, their efforts yielded no breakthrough, leading to the submission of a closure report in January 2024. Now, with the court's directive, the CBI will revisit the case, offering renewed hope for answers in the search for Jesna.