SC asks CBI to file Muzaffarpur report by June 3

The Supreme Court on Monday told the CBI to complete its ongoing investigation into alleged murders of 11 girls at infamous Muzaffarpur Shelter home and file a status report.

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Deepak Gupta put the matter for consideration during summer vacations, on June 3.

Senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, appearing as amicus curiae, contended witnesses have categorically stated that murders have taken place but three months have already been passed, murder charges were not added.

He said the top court had given six months time for completing the trial of which three months had gone.

"Let CBI clarify if murders have taken place," he said.

Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the CBI, submitted that 11 girls were supposed to have been murdered, further investigation was already one. In one case, bones recovered. He said 35 children had the same name.

He said as the materials come on record, further supplementary charge sheet would be filed.

The court, after considering urgent nature of the matter, put it for hearing before a vacation bench on June 3. It directed the CBI to complete investigation by then.

It also allowed a plea by senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, appearing for the accused, that they can make an application for making them as parties to the application filed by journalist Nivedita Jha.

In its affidavit, the CBI had earlier told the court the names of 11 girls alleged to be murdered by the prime accused and his accomplices have been disclosed and their identities have been ascertained.

"On a statement made by one of the accused, Guddu Patel, one particular spot in a burial ground was excavated and a bundle of bones of the girls were recovered," it said.

The CBI said the allegations of murder were investigated in right earnest by scrutinising the master register of 'Balika Grih', and conducting field verification to locate dead bodies.

The CBI has taken over the investigation in the case on July 28, 2018 after issue of sexual exploitation of young girls came to light on an audit report by TISS, causing widespread outrage across the country and a huge embarrassment to the Nitish Kumar government.

In a response to a plea by journalist Jha alleging no murder charge was invoked against the prime accused, Brijesh Thakur, the CBI said the further investigation in the matter was already on. "To contend that allegations of murders have not been looked into or graver provision was not invoked was "entirely misconceived and premature".