Shelter Home Abuse Case: SC Raps Bihar Police Over ‘Untraceable’ Ex-Min

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday, lashed out at Bihar Police for their failure in arresting former cabinet minister Manju Verma in connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex abuse scandal and summoned the state Directorate General of Police (DGP) for an explanation, on November 27.

Justice Madan B Lokur questioned the police for not being able to trace the whereabouts of the former minister. “Fantastic! The Cabinet minister is on the run, fantastic. How could it happen that she is absconding and nobody knows where she is. Do you realize the seriousness of the issue that the cabinet minister is not traceable? It’s too much,” he said.

The apex court has directed the Chief Secretary to appear before it the same day for the mismanagement of shelter homes in Bihar.

The court also told advocate Ranjit Kumar, who appeared for the state, that all was not well in Bihar.

While the state police submitted to the court that Verma was untraceable, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said no search was conducted in this connection. Verma’s daughter and son-in-law were not contacted either, a top Patna Police said.

The court had also ordered an investigation into seizure of arms and ammunition from their residence. Verma’s husband Chandrasekhar also came under police lens after call records of the prime accused Brajesh Thakur threw up his name.

Verma, who represents Cheria Barirarpur Assembly constituency, had stepped down from the post of Social Welfare minister after the allegations. After her bail plea was rejected by Beguarai court and further by Patna High Court, she went missing.