Muzaffarpur case: ED says kingpin Brajesh Thakur transferred govt funds for personal benefits

Brajesh Thakur, the main accused in thesexual assault case of several girls at a shelter home in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, transferred government funds meant for child welfarefor his personal benefits and illegal activities, an ED probe has found.

The federal investigation agency had filed a criminal case of money laundering against Thakur, his family members and others in October last year after reports of sexual abuse of minor girls at the shelter house run by Thakur's NGO- Sewa Sankalp Vikas Samiti- came to light.

"Huge funds have been transferred through the bank accounts of the NGO directly to bank accounts of Brajesh Thakur and his family members for their personal use.

"This makes it evident that Thakur has concealed, transferred and siphoned off funds provided by the government and other sources for the welfare of the children," the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said in its probe report accessed by PTI.

This is a "classic case of money laundering" where funds meant to be spent on welfare of children have been transferred and diverted through various accounts and utilised for personal use, it added.

The report said there was frequent transfer of funds from the accounts of the NGO to the bank accounts of Thakur and his family.

"This makes it evident that Thakur managed and treated the NGO as a private property and siphoned off the funds for personal benefits," it said.

"Thakur concealed and illegally transferred funds from bank accounts of the NGO into the bank accounts of other individuals which were subsequently withdrawn in cash for handing over to Thakur without leaving any trail," the report alleged.

In a specific instance, the agency found funds from bank accounts of the NGO were "directly" used for making payment of medical college fee of Thakur's son.

"This establishes that Thakur and his family members diverted and transferred the funds of the NGO for personal use," it said.

It said the NGO was used as a "tool for money laundering" by Thakur and others.

The agency also relied on an order of the Income-tax department that cancelled the registration and exemption from tax categorisation of the NGO on August 14 last year after it found that the organisation "has totally deviated from its stated objectives and is involved in illegal activities."
Probe found that Thakur also made "false claims of huge agricultural income in an attempt to conceal the proceeds of time."