According to the call records traced by CBI, Bihar Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma's husband spoke to Muzaffarpur Shelter Homes' key accused in the case Brajesh Thakur 17 times, as reported by News 18. In an earlier report, her husband was found to have visited these shelter homes. The worst is Thakur instead of being behind the bars, is admitted in the hospital for the last one month. He was also seen laughing when he was arrested.

According to an ANI report, Thakur in response to all the allegations against him has said, "I was thinking of joining Congress and it was almost final that I 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."

The Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case came to light after the 44 girls living in the shelter house alleged that they were raped and abused in the house. The shelter home is run by an NGO named Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti, and the girls said that they were shown pornographic films and given sedatives before getting sexually assaulted. The girls even complained that those inmates who resisted the assault were roughed up badly.

Watch the News 18 video clipping of the story

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, in a press conference held recently, blamed the system for the shelter home rape case. Thakur was reportedly shifted to jail from the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzaffarpur on June 27. It was on June 2, that he was arrested, but he continued to be in the hospital rather than in jail, citing health issues. Thakur was reportedly shifted to jail from the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzaffarpur on June 27. It was on June 2, that he was arrested, but he continued to be in the hospital rather than in jail, citing health issues.

Commenting on the incident, the Supreme Court has slammed the Bihar government over the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape cases. According to an ANI report, the Apex Court asked- 'Who is giving tax-payers' money to shelter homes? Commenting on the horrific cases of sexual abuse against inmates from shelter homes, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi on Monday said, "It’s not only frightening, it makes me sad. I know there will be many more because, for years and years, we have paid no attention, apart from giving them money."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 08, 2018 12:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).