Senior JD(U) leader and former Bihar minister Damodar Raut is now in the eye of the storm over the Muzaffapur shelter home scandal with the Opposition demanding action against him after his son was expelled from the party's youth wing for alleged links with the prime accused Brajesh Thakur.
There have been reports that Raut was also questioned by the CBI, which is probing the case involving alleged rape of 34 inmates at a government-funded shelter home run by Thakur's NGO, even though the JD(U) leader dismissed the allegations and said there appeared to be a "conspiracy" against him.
JD(U) has expelled the former minister's son Rajiv Raut from the post of general secretary and the primary membership of youth wing of the party.
Damodar Raut, who is currently state vice president of Janata Dal (United) and had served as the social welfare minister during Nitish Kumar's first tenure, is the second senior leader from the party to face the heat in the case.
Earlier, Manju Verma had to resign as social welfare minister following allegations about links of her husband Chandeshwar Verma with Thakur.
Youth JD(U) president and MLA Abhay Kushwaha told PTI, "We had expelled Rajiv Raut on Saturday itself. Report of his links to Brajesh Thakur was one of the reasons."
He also denied any links of his son with Brajesh Thakur and said, "Neither of us knew him. People are drawing conclusions based on a photograph in which my son is shown standing beside Brajesh Thakur. The photograph was clicked at a wedding party where both happened to be present."
Yadav's tweet drew a sharp response from JD(U) MLC and spokesman Neeraj Kumar who said, "When are you expelling your father and convicted RJD chief Lalu Prasad from the party? You would not dare to expel any tainted character as it would lead to expulsion of your entire family from the party."
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