#MuzaffarpurShelterCase: SC orders transfer of Brajesh Thakur to Patiala
What's the story
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home case, to a high-security prison in Punjab's Patiala. The transfer order comes just days after the Supreme Court said that Thakur needed to be moved out of Bihar as he seemed to have significant influence in the state. Here's more.
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The SC's earlier comments on getting Thakur transferred
"Serious allegations are made against Thakur...and we have also noted the influence wielded by him. In view of the serious nature of allegations made against him, it is not appropriate in continuing his custody in central jail Bhagalpur or any other jail in Bihar," the SC had said earlier.
Manju Verma
SC questions Bihar govt about former minister Manju Verma
Additionally, the apex court also questioned the Bihar government as to why former minister Manju Verma, whose husband Chandrashekhar allegedly had close ties with Thakur, had still not been arrested. Earlier, 50 ammunition cartridges had been seized from the Vermas' residence in a CBI raid. Manju Verma had also stepped as Bihar's Social Welfare minister after her name surfaced in the Muzaffarpur case.
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Being a minister doesn't make you above the law: SC
"Just because she happens to be cabinet minister doesn't make her above the law. The whole thing is highly suspicious. Why has she not been arrested? It's too much. Nobody is bothered about the law," said a livid SC bench.
The case
Backstory: The horrific Muzaffarpur shelter case
For those unaware, the Muzaffarpur shelter case pertains to the rape of several girls at a shelter home run by Brajesh Thakur. It is alleged that Thakur raped and sexually assaulted over 30 girls in the shelter home. The victims were also allegedly starved, and beaten, and some of them were even killed. The CBI, too, found five skeletons in connection with the case.