Roping in CBI to probe in Deoria Shelter Home Case, Allahabad HC to monitor the investigation ensuring transparency

Lucknow, August 9: After Uttar Pradesh government recommended roping in Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the Deoria Home Shelter Case; the Allahabad High Court decided to monitor the investigation into the alleged sex racket at the Deoria child shelter home case.

In this view, the High Court has directed the CBI and state government to submit a detailed report on the progress made in the probe and action taken on August 13. The bench of Chief Justice D B Bhosale and Justice Yashwant Varma passed the order while taking suo motu cognizance of media reports on the suspected sexual abuse of the inmates at the Ma Vindhyavasini shelter by an NGO. The High Court also ordered the media not to release any pictures of the girls even in blurred format.

 

The court said that they suspect the owners of the shelter home had got the patronage of some politician or a VIP while referring to the operation of the shelter even though it was blacklisted. The court said girls continued to be shifted to the shelter home and no action was being taken against its managers even though the district administration had received complaints. Taking cognizance of the same, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister had removed the District Magistrate.

 

The bench also sought a copy of the statements of rescued girls recorded before the magistrate. The court has also asked the state government to inform if the CBI has taken up the case and started its investigation.

UP's Additional Advocate General Neeraj Tripathi told the court that the state government will transfer the case to the CBI as soon as it receives approval from the Centre.

The High Court has sought answers to following questions from the state government and the CBI:

1. Why was Deoria Police continued to admit girls in the shelter home when its license was canceled and funds stalled?

2. When the District Magistrate was removed, why no action was initiated against police officers?

3. Is probe looking into the involvement of politicians and VIPs?

4. What arrangements have been made for the safety and security of rescued girls?

5. What steps were taken so far to recover girls missing from the shelter home?

The court was informed that shelter home was running illegally by the NGO. Out of total 48 girls, 23 were rescued by the police and 14 among them were given custody to their parents. The court was also informed that the Deoria district magistrate was transferred to ensure a fair investigation into the matter.

 

The shelter home was raided on Sunday night after a girl fled from there and reached a police station. The court has fixed the next hearing for August 13.