CBI fails to get remand of accused in child abuse case

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday failed to get police remand of three accused in the infamous Rohtak shelter home – Apna Ghar – children abuse case.

After taking over the case on July 12, CBI formally arrested the 10 accused on Wednesday.

The investigation agency produced Jaswanti Devi, her daughter Simmi, son-in-law Jai Bhagwan, brother Jaswant Singh, cousin Sheila, counsellor Veena, and driver Satish, former probe officer Bhim Singh Ranga, Dayanand and Harvinder before the court of civil judge Anudeep Kaur Bhatti at Panchkula.

CBI counsel asked for police remand of Jai Bhagwan, Bhim Singh Ranga and Satish as they wanted to recover laptop, mobile phones and other electronic gadgets, allegedly containing footage of sexual abuse of inmates of Apna Ghar which was filmed by the accused.

Judge asked for police diary, which contains details of police investigations, which CBI could not produce. She also asked for authority letter or order of High Court or Supreme Court, by which CBI had taken over the case, but CBI also failed to produce that.

Declining CBI’s request, the judge sent all the accused to judicial custody but gave time to CBI to produce relevant papers before the court on Thursday for seeking police remand of Jai Bhagwan, Bhim Singh Ranga and Satish.

As per Special Investigation Team (SIT) report published in the same columns former case investigating officer Bhim Singh Ranga, who had retired recently, had illegally handed over the case property, including cell phones and laptops, to Dayananad.

When the NCPCR team had raided the shelter home, Ranga was already present there under suspicious circumstances. Ranga had allegedly threatened inmates not to give statements against Jaswanti.

A total of 103 children were residing in Apna Ghar headed by Jaswanti Devi and run by non-governmental organization Bharat Vikas Sangh in Shri Nagar Colony, Rohtak. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had conducted a surprise raid at the shelter home on May 10 after which the case had come to light.

Later a four member advocates’ committee constituted by the high court had submitted in its report after interviews of 101 inmates that they were subjected to sexual assault, brutal beating, starvation, naked parade, pornography, forcible abortions, forceful intoxication by the caretaker Jaswanti Devi, her relatives, outsiders and also the policemen.

While coming out of the court, Jaswanti Devi said that they would come out clean if CBI conducted unbiased investigations. She added that she was framed in the case and some NGOs were behind for her being targeted, as she had got an award for her social service. She said that girls were instigated to give statements against her.

When asked if the government was behind it, she replied that the government was misled.

When specifically asked if influential people were also involved, she did not give any reply.