The Supreme Court on Thursday summoned former interim CBI director M Nageswara Rao to appear before it on February 12 in connection with the transfer of officer AK Sharma who was probing the Muzaffarpur shelter home case.
One other official, Bhasuran, the prosecution in-charge has also been asked to personally appear before the court.
Coming down heavily on the Central Bureau of Investigation for transferring an investigating officer in the case, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said Rao has prima facie committed contempt of court.
“We are going to take it very very seriously. You have played with the order of Supreme Court of India. God help you. Never play with SC’s order,” a furious Chief Justice said after he was informed by the CBI counsel that two officials including Rao were involved in transferring Sharma.
Rao had transferred out AK Sharma despite the Supreme Court’s embargo against the transfer of officials in the Muzaffarpur case, which the court is monitoring.
Seeking to know why the officer probing the case was transferred, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked, “Was the Cabinet committee which transferred him, informed of Supreme Court embargo?” adding that this amounted to the violation of court order.
Earlier, the court transferred the trial of Muzaffarpur shelter home cases from Patna to Saket POCSO court in Delhi for “a free and fair trial”.
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The top court also ordered the judge to commence the trial in two weeks and complete it within a period of six months.
While slamming the Bihar government for its management of shelter homes, the Supreme Court said, “Enough is enough. Get someone here who is conversed to what is happening in the state. Children cannot be treated like this. You cannot let your officers treat children this way. Spare the children.”
The court further warned that it will summon the chief secretary if the state fails to give all the information.