Shelter homes case: SC asks why Bihar ex-min has not been arrested

The Supreme Court Tuesday asked the Bihar Police why former state minister Manju Verma, who had stepped down in the wake of the Muzaffurpur shelter home scandal, has not been arrested in a case related to recovery of ammunition from her residence.

The former minister's husband Chandrashekhar Verma surrendered before a Begusarai court on Monday in connection with the arms case, reports PTI.

The alleged sexual exploitation of the girls was first highlighted in an audit report submitted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to the state's social welfare department.

The apex court had earlier termed as "horrible" and "scary" details placed before it about the investigation into the case.

The apex court had also taken note of the allegations referred by CBI against Thakur and issued notice to him to explain why he should not be transferred to a jail outside the state.

The CBI in its report had alleged that Thakur is an influential person and a mobile phone was recovered from him inside the jail where he is currently lodged under judicial custody.

A bench of Justices M B Lokur, S A Nazeer and Deepak Gupta also directed that Brajesh Thakur, prime accused in the Bihar shelter home case, be shifted to the Patiala high security jail in Punjab from Bihar's Bhagalpur jail.