Muzaffarpur shelter home: ED to record statement of former board chief

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing the Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual abuse case, is preparing to record the statement of Dilip Verma, former chairman of the District Child Welfare Comm-ittee (DCWC), under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Sources said investigation of the agency revealed that Verma was constantly in touch with the prime accused in the case Brajesh Thakur and the former allegedly helped Thakur in procuring certain immovable assets, worth several crores, in the state.

“Verma is already in the judicial custody and ED sleuths will soon record his statements”, sources said. Verma, whom inmates of the shelter home had reportedly accused of sexual misconduct in their statements, allegedly knows about the financial details and investments made by other accused in the case also, they added.  

The ED is also preparing to file its preliminary chargesheet in the case very soon.

The Central probe agency, sources said, may mention the role of public servants belonging to the state administration, as accused in its first probe report. Another central probe agency which is investigating the case—CBI, has already filed chargesheet in the case. Brajesh Thakur, owner of the NGO which ran the home, and around 20 people were named as accused in the CBI’s chargesheet.

The ED had filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) taking cognisance of the CBI FIR. Over 30 girls were allegedly raped at the shelter home, run by Thakur, chief of the state-funded NGO. An FIR was lodged on 31st May, 2018 against 11 people, including Thakur. The probe was later taken over by the CBI. The CBI had filed its charge sheet against Thakur, his employees, his associate Shaista Parveen and a government officer before a special court in Bihar. “Filing of the chargesheet by the ED will certainly ensure that the arrested persons may be kept behind bars by the court as they will not be able to exploit of the chance of seeking bail for the want of charge sheet”, sources said. The ED may also initiate the proceedings to attach the properties of the accused as part of its money laundering investigation into the case.