Muzaffarpur shelter home: SC to hear plea alleging torture of key accused Brajesh Thakur in jail

Brajesh Thakur is the main accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual exploitation case.

PTI file photo

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will on Monday resume hearing on a plea alleging torture of Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual abuse case accused prime accused Brajesh Thakur by jail authorities.

The plea has been filed by Takur's children alleging that their father was being tortured, physically and mentally in jail, by the Patiala Jail Superintendent purportedly for money. 

Responding to the plea, the top court had earlier ordered an immediate medical examination of Brajesh Kumar and directed the authorities to file a report by December 10.

Brajesh Thakur, the main accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual exploitation case, was the proprietor of NGO Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti which ran a shelter home in Muzaffarpur where 34 destitute girls were allegedly drugged, tortured and raped for several months.

Thakur is known as an ace fixer who is well connected to top political figures in Bihar. 

His alleged links with Bihar former social welfare minister Manju Verma had already cast her job.

On October 11, Brajesh Thakur was shifted from Khudiram Bose Central prison to Bhagalpur Jail on the request of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The CBI had earlier accused Thakur of using his influence inside the jail and recommended the state authorities to shift him from Muzaffarpur. 

The CBI is carrying out Supreme Court-monitored investigation in sexual, physical and psychological harassment of minor girl inmates of Balika Grih, sponsored by the state government but run by Thakur-owned NGO Sewa Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti. 

The NGO owner was arrested on June 2 this year after a Tata Institute Of Social Sciences (TISS) audit report on Bihar shelter homes blew the lid off the scandal. 

Further, medical tests proved that 34 minor girl inmates were drugged and raped over a long period of time. 

After taking control of investigation on July 28, the CBI extensively raided properties and residential complexes related to Brajesh Thakur and his closed ones and arrested several persons in connection with the case.