1 more hostel student tests positive for abuse; Union minister Ahir demands CBI probe

Nagpur: The panel constituted by the high court, and headed by Chandrapur additional sessions judge, examined eight more inmates of Rajura hostel to ascertain whether they were among those subjected to sexual abuse. On Friday, union minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir also wrote to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking an inquiry into the case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
It is learnt that medical tests revealed one of the girls was sexually abused.Before this, seven inmates were confirmed to have been drugged and then sexually exploited at the hostel.
The latest development has taken the number of inmates abused to eight. Earlier, nine inmates had complained of being sexually abused at the hostel which is aided by the tribal department. Allegations of sexual abuse levelled by two inmates could not be confirmed during tests at Chandrapur government medical college and hospital.
Chandrapur police had arrested five persons, before the case was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) last week. Around 24 personnel, under two officers of the rank of deputy SP, are camping in Rajura for the probe.
CID SP Ranjan Kumar Sharma, who visited the hostel on Thursday, is reviewing the progress on a daily basis.
Sources claimed the state CID has also come across several administrative lapses in the school. It also located a ‘first aid room’ with registers containing names of students, though the room was never used by anyone.
In another development, union minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir has written a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking an inquiry by the CBI. Ahir said there is widespread resentment in his constituency (Chandrapur) over the case.
Sources in the state CID said the statements of seven survivors have already been recorded in the presence of the magistrate.
“It is likely that the number of survivors testing positive will increase. With more survivors, more facts could tumble out, leading to more arrests,” said a state CID official.