The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started its probe into the missing case of Pathanamthitta native B.Com student Jesna Maria James, who went missing three years ago. The CBI started a probe after the Kerala High Court last month ordered an investigation by the agency. CBI has registered the First Information Report in the case, reports News18 Malayalam.

According to the report, the case will be probed by the Thiruvananthapuram unit of the CBI. The agency has also reportedly filed a report in CBI Special Court in the district that Jesna might have been abducted.

It was in 2018 that Jesna, who was then 20-years old, went missing after stepping out of her home in Vechoochira near Erumeli in Pathanamthitta district, to head to her aunt’s house. Though Kerala Police had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the case, Jesna could not be tracked.

On March 22, 2018 Jesna was travelling to her aunt’s house at Mundakayam in Kottayam district. An earlier probe had confirmed that she boarded a bus from Erumeli to Mundakayam. The SIT probe had also revealed that Jesna had sent several calls and messages to her friend before her disappearance. Though her friends were questioned by investigation officials, no substantial information was found.

Jesna had been living with her brother and father after her mother Sancy died in 2017 due to illness. On the day Jesna went missing, her father and brother were not at home.

The SIT had even announced a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh for anyone giving information about Jesna. At one point, it was suspected that Jesna in Bengaluru after spotting a lookalike of her, but it was later confirmed to be another woman.

It was Jesna's brother, Jaice John James and Kerala Students Union (KSU) leader KM Abhijith, who moved the High Court and secured an order to start the CBI probe.