CBI to probe shelter home horror in Haryana

The Haryana government on Friday recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the allegations of sexual abuse and torture, including by police personnel, of the inmates of the controversial Apna Ghar shelter home in Rohtak.

An official spokesman told PTI that the case being investigated by a special investigation team headed by an additional director general of the Haryana police would now be handed over to the CBI for a fair and impartial probe.

The scandal-hit Apna Ghar, being run by NGO Bharat Vikas Sangh, was sealed on June 9, three days after Haryana Police DGP R S Dalal announced the constitution of the ADGP-headed SIT.

Inmates of the home were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse, physical and mental exploitation and used as bonded labour.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Right had rescued nearly 120 people, including children and women, from the house after carrying out a surprise raid on May 9.

The house in Rohtak, native place of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, was sealed on the directives of additional director general of police (law and order) MS Mann, who had been deputed as head of special investigation team to probe allegations of sexual abuse of children and women in the home.

Seven people have so far been arrested in connection with the case.

The Punjab and Haryana high court had constituted a four-member committee of lawyers to inspect various shelters in the state identifying cases of sexual abuse or torture.

The DGP had earlier rejected the demands of the opposition, including of Om Parkash Chautala led Indian National Lok Dal, for a CBI probe into the entire case, saying the state police was "equally capable of carrying out a fair investigation."