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Muzaffarpur shelter home rapes: State admits ex-minister Manju Verma missing, SC says all is not well in Bihar

The Supreme Court came down heavily on the state agencies and law enforcement bodies for failing to arrest Verma. 

Muzaffarpur shelter home rapes: State admits ex-minister Manju Verma missing, SC says all is not well in Bihar File Image

NEW DELHI: Bihar government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that former cabinet minister Manju Verma, who had to resign after Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case came to light, has gone into hiding and could not be traced out by police in a case lodged against her under Arms Act.

The Supreme Court came down heavily on the state agencies and law enforcement bodies for failing to arrest Verma. 

“All is not well in Bihar. Former minister goes hiding and the government does not know and has failed to arrest her after her bail plea rejected,” said the top court.

The SC on Tuesday had pulled up Bihar Police for not arresting Verma even after her anticipatory bail application was dismissed by the Patna High Court on October 9.

Her husband Chandrashekhar Verma had surrendered before a Begusarai court on Monday in connection with the arms case registered against him, the apex court was informed by the Bihar government.

The top court on Tuesday ordered that prime accused Brajesh Thakur be shifted out of the state to Punjab's Patiala jail.

The court also directed that Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual abuse case, be shifted to the Patiala high-security jail in Punjab from Bihar's Bhagalpur jail.

Over 30 girls were allegedly raped and sexually abused at the shelter home in Muzaffarpur. The case of alleged sexual exploitation was highlighted in an audit report submitted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to the state's social welfare department.

An FIR was lodged on May 31 against 11 people, including Brajesh Thakur, who was running the shelter home. The probe was later taken over by the CBI. So far 17 persons have been arrested in connection with the case.