Bihar minister Manju Verma quits over Muzaffarpur shelter home rape horror
Patna, Aug 8 (IBNS): Bihar minister Manju Verma has resigned over allegations against her husband, who is an accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case, media reports said.
Manju Verma's husband Chandeshwar was regularly in contact with the man who ran the shelter home in Muzaffarpur in which over 30 girls were raped and physically tortured, police was quoted as saying by media reports.
Call records suggested that between October and May, Verma, visited the shelter home nine times and each time for several hours.
When interrogated by police, Manju Verma has admitted that her husband was in touch with Brajesh Thakur, the patron of an NGO, which ran the shelter home.
However, Manju said her husband was innocent as he had no clue that Thakur was a "criminal."
Earlier, the Patna High Court on Monday decided to monitor the CBI investigation.
According to media reports, the court had ordered a speedy trial in the case and gave the CBI two weeks time to prepare a report.
The incident came to light in April following an audit of the shelter home by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, which said many girls had complained of sexual abuse.
The court's decision came in response to the Bihar Government's appeal to hold an HC-monitored CBI inquiry and conduct speedy trials in a special court.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar last month had asked the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and the DGP to hand over the case to the central agency.
Kumar had said in a statement, "A very shameful incident has occurred in the Muzaffarpur shelter home. State police are conducting an investigation into the matter. Government is committed for an impartial probe."
Till now, the police have arrested 11 persons in the case, including Brajesh Kumar, the prime accused, who is the owner of NGO Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti that ran the shelter home.
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