The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) froze the bank accounts of Brajesh Thakur, the main accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal, on Wednesday, 8 August, and initiated and investigation into his property.
The watchman of the Madhubani shelter home was also arrested on 8 August after the primary witness in the case went missing from the home, ANI reported.
The CBI has demanded a detailed medical report of Brajesh Thakur, who has been in jail for two months now, from the prison doctor.
Thakur’s Face Blackened by Jan Adhikar Party Members
Brajesh Thakur was produced in a special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) court in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur on 8 August, along with nine other accused arrested in the case.
High drama was witnessed outside the court premises as dozens of supporters of the Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) blackened Thakur’s while he was being taken inside. The JAP is headed by Madhepura MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who has been vociferously raising the Muzaffarpur issue in Parliament.
Asked about reports that he had made 17 telephone calls to Chandeshwar Verma, the husband of Bihar Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma, between January and June this year, Thakur said, "I used to speak to him occasionally on political issues."
"I have only formal relations with them (Manju Verma and her husband) just like I have with you people," Thakur, who also ran three newspapers in Hindi, English and Urdu, said.
Congress: Thakur Not Even a Primary Member of Our Party
Thakur also alleged that he was being made a "political scapegoat" as he was likely to get a ticket from the Congress in a forthcoming election.
He also claimed that he had plans of joining the Congress party, adding that he was in touch with central leaders of the Congress.
I was thinking of joining Congress, and it was almost final that I would contest elections from Muzaffarpur. This is also happening due to that. None of the girls has taken my name, you can check that for yourself.Brajesh Thakur to ANI
He, however, did not specify if he meant nomination for next year's parliamentary election or the state assembly poll in 2020.
Thakur's claim was immediately dismissed by the Congress as "ridiculous".
Congress MLC Prem Chand Mishra said Thakur was "not even a primary member of the party".
I’ve never had any relation with Madhu Kumari (a journalist also accused in the case and now absconding). This has been propagated by some newspapers who want my newspaper office to shut down. Their business is getting affected due to my newspaper that’s why it’s happening.Brajesh Thakur to ANI
Thakur, whose NGO ran the shelter home, has been in jail for the past two months.
Bihar Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma is in the eye of the storm ever since the name of her husband cropped up in the sex scandal case at the Muzaffarpur shelter home.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)
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