Patna, November 20: Former Bihar Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma on Tuesday surrendered before a Begusarai court, months after multiple summons and an arrest warrant was issued against her. The former JD(U) leader, whose husband is linked to the Muzaffarpur shelter home case, has been booked under Arms Act after the CBI seized weapons and ammunition from one of her residence.

The Supreme Court had, earlier in the month, reprimanded the Bihar government for failing to ascertain the whereabouts of an accused, who was serving as a Minister till a couple of months ago. Under flak, the ruling JD(U) suspended her primary membership from the party, while assuring that the police would arrest her at the earliest.

Verma came under the radar of probing officials in July this year -- shortly after her husband Chandrasekhar Verma's links emerged with Brijesh Thakur, the prime accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home rapes case. Why Manju Verma Stepped Down as Bihar Social Welfare Minister.

Between January to June this year, the police found call records between Chandrasekhar and Brijesh Thakur -- the owner of the shelter home where more than 30 girls were raped over a prolonged period.

The CBI, which was handed over the case in July, has been probing the purported the police-politician nexus, which ensured that Thakur remained scot-free for years while abusing minors for flesh trade.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has assured that his government would not hinder the CBI probe, and allow the premier agency to take stringent action against all those involved - "whether they are Ministers or bureaucrats".

According to RJD leader Raghuvansh Yadav, the Bihar CM's claim of "good governance has been exposed" as a sitting Minister of his government was found linked to the prime accused in the sex scandal.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 20, 2018 12:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).