A team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday searched the residence of former Bihar Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma in Patna and other places in connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case.
As many as 34 minor girls were allegedly sexually abused at the government-funded home, run by main accused Brajesh Thakur’s NGO, Sewa Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti.
Ms. Verma’s husband Chandeshwar Verma has been accused of visiting the Muzaffarpur shelter home for minor girls “frequently.”
The CBI team also searched seven premises of the main accused Brajesh Thakur, his friends and relatives. In a marathon operation, the team searched 16 places in Patna, Begusarai, Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Samastipur, Bhagalpur and other places and seized several documents.
Official sources told The Hindu that both Ms. Verma and her husband Chandeshwar Verma were quizzed for several hours in two separate rooms of her official residence located at 6, Netaji Marg in Patna.
Following allegations that her husband had been visiting the shelter home “frequently” and media reports about CDR (Call Detail Record) showing that he had telephonic conversations with Brajesh Thakur 17 times from January to May this year, Ms. Verma, on August 8, resigned from her post.
The CBI team also searched the house of Ms. Verma’s in-laws in Begusarai, Brajesh Thakur’s home in Patna and residences of some of his relatives and friends in Muzaffarpur and other places.
