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Muzaffarpur sexual abuse case: Ex-Bihar minister Manju Verma, missing for weeks, surrenders before court
Verma had been evading arrest since she was charged with an Arms Act case after illegal arms were found in her house during a CBI raid in connection with the sex scandal.
Former Bihar minister Manju Verma, wanted in connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual abuse scandal, surrendered before a court in Begusarai on Tuesday.
The former social welfare minister arrived with three others in a luxury car escorted by a police van, in a mockery of state police chief’s claims that separate teams were carrying raids at several places to arrest her.
Verma had been charged under an Arms Act case three months back following recovery of prohibited bore ammunition from her home during a CBI raid done as part of Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual abuse case.
To hide her identity, Verma was wearing a veil when she appeared before the court of ACJM Prabhat Trivedi.
As soon as she entered the court room, she fainted. The suspended JD(U) MLA from Cheria-Bariarpur regained consciousness and immediately stood on her feet after someone sprinkled water on her face.
“I have surrendered as I respect the judiciary,” the suspended JD(U) MLA said.
Begusarai SP Awakash Kumar said the former social welfare minister has been remanded to 14-day judicial remand.
Verma came under the radar of probing officials in July this year, shortly after her husband Chandrasekhar Verma’s links emerged with Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home case.
A non-bailable warrant had been issued against her earlier this month and on November 12, the Supreme Court had rapped the Bihar Police for not having arrested Verma.
Verma surrendered exactly 15 days after the Supreme Court order, where she had applied for an anticipatory bail, which however did not come up for hearing.
In a bid to show action in the case in view of the SC’s censure, the district police had conducted attachment of her property at her native village on Saturday and Sunday. However, her official residence, which she was allotted in her capacity as minister, was never searched by the police.
Former chief minister of Rabri Devi on Monday cornered the Nitish government, accusing it of hiding absconding Verma.
“Manju Verma must be found out. The government has kept her hidden. The SC had reprimanded the state government twice on the issue but there is no effect. She should be traced,” Rabri said.
Over 34 girls, aged 7 to 14 years, were allegedly drugged, scalded with boiling water, raped and forced to sleep naked at a state-funded shelter home run by Thakur. The shocking case of sexual exploitation of the minor girls on such a large scale was first highlighted in an audit report submitted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences to the state’s social welfare department.
Her husband Chandrashekhar had surrendered before a court in Begusarai in October in connection with the arms case.
