Muzaffarpur shelter home rape: Main accused Brijesh Thakur shifted to Punjab's Patiala jail amid high security

PATNA: The main accused in Muzaffarpur shelter home case, Brajesh Thakur, was shifted to Punjab's Patiala jail on Tuesday night.

A heavy layer of security cover was thrown across the Bhagalpur central jail where the accused lodged. 

The Supreme Court had ordered that Thakur should be shifted out of the state to the high-security jail in Patiala, amid reports that he was trying to influence the investigation. 

Bihar: Brijesh Thakur, the main accused in Muzaffarpur shelter home case was taken to Punjab yesterday under police security, after Supreme Court ordered his transfer to a high-security jail in Patiala on October 30. pic.twitter.com/1fmEVh0EQh — ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2018

Over 30 out of 44 inmates were drugged and raped in the Muzaffarpur shelter home, run by Thakur`s NGO. The incident was revealed during a social audit by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. Medical examination later confirmed sexual abuse of most of the minors in the shelter home. 

While ordering Thakur to be shifted out of the state, hearing Justice Madan B. Lokur said, "These girls were injected with drugs and a person is allowed to construct a four-storeyed building without windows!"

Describing what all has happened as "indefensible", a senior counsel said the authorities are looking into how the building was constructed, who sanctioned the plan and why it should not be demolished.

In another related development, the Bihar government told the top court on Wednesday that former cabinet minister Manju Verma, who had to resign after Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case came to light, has gone into hiding and could not be traced out by police in a case lodged against her under Arms Act.

The Supreme Court came down heavily on the state agencies and law enforcement bodies for failing to arrest Verma. 

“All is not well in Bihar. Former minister goes hiding and the government does not know and has failed to arrest her after her bail plea rejected,” said the top court.