Ritesh disappeared around noon on Saturday while playing in the courtyard of his maternal home. His mother, Sapna Pal, who has been living separately from her husband, Dalvir Singh, for six months, reported the disappearance to the Murar police after the family’s initial search proved unsuccessful. A kidnapping case was subsequently registered.
Police said the area around the house is surrounded by dense forest on three sides, with a bypass and the Gwalior–Jhansi highway nearby. Given the child’s age, officers believe he could not have wandered far on his own. “We are treating this as a priority case. All angles, including kidnapping and family enmity, are being investigated,” said Inspector General Arvind Saxena.
Sapna has alleged that her husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law abducted her son, citing previous threats from Dalvir to “take the child back” before Diwali. Police are questioning Dalvir, who denies involvement. Another suspect, Harish alias Chhotu Prajapati—an acquaintance of Sapna seen near the village before the incident—has also been detained after officers found his phone records wiped clean.
The search operation intensified on Monday, with drones scanning the forest and police divers checking nearby ponds. Senior officers, including SSP Dharmveer Singh, are monitoring the case. “The child’s recovery is our top priority. Every lead is being pursued,” Saxena said, adding that the investigation remains open to all possibilities.
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