Shelter-Home (Muzaffarpur) Scandal
- What Happened / Nature of the Abuse
- The shelter home was run by an NGO called Sewa Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti, headed by Brajesh Thakur.
- According to a TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) social audit report, girls (many of them minors) were subjected to systemic sexual violence.
- Some of the worst reported abuses: girls being drugged (sedatives in food), raped, beaten, locked up, physically punished.
- According to media reports, a medical examination of inmates confirmed that 34 out of 42 girls showed evidence of sexual abuse.
- There were also allegations of murder: some girls said one of them was beaten to death and buried within the premises.
- Key Players / Accused
- Brajesh Thakur: the main accused; ran the shelter home.
- Several staff members of the shelter home were arrested.
- Some government officials were also implicated or questioned, raising issues of political / institutional collusion.
- How the Scandal Came to Light (Initial Exposure)
- The scandal broke publicly after a TISS audit report (submitted to the Bihar government) exposed the abuse.
- On 31 May 2018, based on the complaints and audit, an FIR was filed against Brajesh Thakur and others.
- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also took suo motu cognizance of the case.
- Government & Political Response
- Nitish Kumar, then CM of Bihar, expressed shame and guilt over the scandal and called it a "sin."
- He ordered a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into the shelter home.
- He also asked for the Patna High Court to monitor the CBI probe.
- Investigation & Legal Outcomes
- The CBI filed cases against shelter-home staff for sexual exploitation.
- In January 2020, a Delhi court convicted 19 people, including Brajesh Thakur, for aggravated sexual assault under POCSO and gang rape.
- According to the NHRC Annual Report (2021-22): the shelter home was under vicarious liability of the state; the NGO’s registration was cancelled; the building was demolished by Supreme Court order.
- Human Rights / Institutional Criticism
- The NHRC said that this was a grave violation of human rights — the very institution supposed to protect vulnerable girls had failed them.
- The TISS report described a “situation of terror”: girls learned to remain silent because of constant abuse, punishment, and threat.
- There was alleged institutional failure: weak monitoring, possible collusion, and poor oversight by the Social Welfare Department.
- Aftermath / Current Status
- The NGO (Sewa Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti) was deregistered.
- Compensation was recommended / granted to victims (per NHRC report).
- The case has been under court supervision, and the trial was reportedly completed under timelines set by the Supreme Court.
Sources
Indian Express
Nitish Kumar breaks silence on sexual abuse at Muzaffarpur shelter, says 'we are ashamed'
New Indian Express
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar breaks silence on shelter home sex scandal; Tejashwi Yadav set to protest at Jantar Mantar