Muzaffarpur case: SC says facts “very disturbing”, asks for probe against former minister

New Delhi, Sep. 20 (PTI): The Supreme Court Thursday termed as “very disturbing” the facts emerging from CBI’s probe into the Muzzafarpur shelter home sexual abuse case and asked the Bihar Police to probe the alleged recovery of large quantity of ammunition from former state minister Manju Verma and her husband.
Manju Verma had resigned as the Social Welfare Minister in the Bihar government following the Muzzafarpur case where several women were raped and sexually abused, after it came to light that her husband Chandrashekhar Verma had spoken to prime accused Brajesh Thakur several times between January and June this year.

The apex court, which observed that CBI’s probe in the case seemed to be on track, said it was not clear whether illegal arms were also recovered from the possession of the Vermas and the matter needed to be looked into by the local police.

The bench said “it has also come on record that one Chandrashekhar Verma and his wife Manju Verma have been in possession of illegal ammunition of a fairly large quantity. It is not clear whether they were in possession of illegal arms as well. The status report mentions that an FIR has been lodged against Chandrashekhar Verma and Manju Verma.”

The bench took note of the fact that the state’s social welfare department had shifted some girls from the shelter home run by Brajesh Thakur in March this year, but the purpose of shifting was not clear.

“The CBI should seize the record of the social welfare department in this regard and carry out the investigation,” it said and asked Bihar to file an affidavit indicating the circumstances necessitating the transfer of these girls.

Regarding Thakur, the bench said “it appears that the person in-charge of the NGO ‘Sewa Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti’, Brajesh Thakur, is a very influential person and people in the neighbourhood are scared of him and not able to make any complaint against him.”

Referring to the CBI’s reports, it said the NGO had received around INR 4.5 crore worth of funds from the state over a period of 10 years and 35 vehicles were purchased.

The apex court said that issue concerning the shelter home was of an “extremely serious nature” and requires a “greater in-depth scrutiny” by the CBI.
During the hearing, advocate Aparna Bhat, assisting the court as an amicus curiae in the matter, said the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) was assisting CBI on the psycho-social and rehabilitation issues of the victims and they may be permitted to complete the task by first week of October.

The court has posted the matter for hearing on October 25.
Over 30 girls were allegedly raped at the shelter home run by Thakur and the issue was highlighted in an audit report submitted by TISS to the state’s social welfare department