Former Bihar minister surrenders

Police were searching for Verma, wanted in connection with a child care home sex scandal

Fugitive former minister Manju Verma wanted by the police in connection with the infamous child care home sex scandal surrendered before a local court in Bihar yesterday. She was taken into custody and sent to jail after her health check-up.

Verma, who earlier served as the social welfare minister in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government headed by chief minister Nitish Kumar, reached the court in an auto-rickshaw covering her face with a veil and surrendered before the local subdivisional court at Manjhual in Bengusarai district.

Her surrender had become a certainty after the police launched extensive raids for her arrest in various parts of the country and then also confiscated her property earlier this week. The ruling Janata Dal United (JD-U) led by chief minister Kumar too suspended her from the party as her “free run” continued causing much embarrassment to the party leadership.

The former minister came under the radar of the probing officials shortly after her husband Chandrashekhar Verma was found having close links with jailed Brajesh Thakur, prime accused in the Muzaffarpur-based care home sex scandal. At least 34 girls were allegedly raped at the care home being run by an NGO headed by jailed Thakur.

The surrender follows extensive raids by the police to nab the fugitive former minister in the aftermath of the Supreme Court passing strong remarks against the state government for failing to trace the absconding former minister.