Nitish Kumar said Patna High Court should monitor the CBI probe into the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case. (Photo/ANI)
Breaking his silence over the horrific Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said that the incident has brought shame to the entire state while assuring that severe punishment will be given to those guilty.
Speaking at an event in Patna, Nitish said that though CBI is probing the case, high court should also monitor the progress being made in the investigation.
"Muzaffarpur mein aisi ghatana ghat gayi ki hum sharamsaar ho gaye. CBI jaanch kar rahi hai, high court iski monitoring kare (Our heads hang in shame after what happened in Muzaffarpur. The CBI is investigating the matter....high court should also monitor it)," Nitish Kumar said.
"I would like to assure everyone that no leniency will be shown towards anyone, all those found guilty will be severely punished," the CM added. Nitish, however, chose to keep mum over the alleged role of husband of Bihar Minister Manju Verma in the case. Reports have emerged that Varma's husband used to visit the shelter home frequently.
Nitish's statement over the case came just hours after RJD leader and his former deputy Tejashwi Yadav questioned the CM's silence.
"Nitish Chacha, I will force you to break your criminal silence on the most horrifying Institutional mass rape of the world that happened right under your nose. How can you afford to sleep as a CM wherein 34 innocent girls hv been repeatedly raped by ur close aides?" tweeted Tejashwi who is leading relentless attacks in the JDU-BJP government in Bihar.
At least 32 of the 42 minor girls at a shelter home, which was run by one Brajesh Thakur's NGO 'Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti' were sexually assaulted repeatedly.
The issue of sexual exploitation at the place was first highlighted in an audit report submitted by the Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS), Mumbai, to Bihar's Social Welfare Department in April.
An FIR was lodged on May 31 against 11 persons in the case. Ten out of the 11 accused persons, including Thakur, were arrested on June 3.
The state government had on July 26 recommended a CBI inquiry into the matter.
WATCH: Nitish Kumar breaks his silence over Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case
