Women Tortured & Raped In Bihar Job Scam: Key Points You Need To Know

Several women in Bihar's Muzaffarpur were allegedly held hostage, tortured, and raped for months after being recruited by a telemarketing and networking company, in a case that has striking similarities to the Muzaffarpur Balika Griha shelter home crimes revealed in 2018.

This shocking case came to light after a courageous survivor approached the local court earlier this year. Her actions led to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) at Ahiyapur police station on June 2. According to the survivor, she and other women were recruited under false pretences by a company called DBR Unique, which claimed to be a telemarketing and networking firm.

The survivor recounted how she was lured by the promise of a ₹15,000 monthly salary after seeing the company’s advertisement on social media. Hareram Kumar, one of the accused, contacted her, persuading her to pay ₹20,500 for training. She borrowed this money from her aunt. After joining the company in June 2022, she underwent intensive training designed to teach her how to attract more recruits for the company.

Beginning of the Nightmare

What followed was a nightmare. The women, including the survivors, were confined to rooms in Muzaffarpur, Hajipur (Vaishali district), and other places. They were forced to recruit more girls. Those who resisted were subjected to brutal torture and rape. The survivor endured horrific abuse, including an abortion, after she refused to continue recruiting. Her testimony reveals an alarming reality of exploitation and suffering, with around 200 girls allegedly trapped in this horrific scheme.

The case took a dramatic turn when a video clip showing the torture of girls went viral on social media, sparking public outrage and condemnation of police inaction. This led to the arrest of Tilak Kumar Singh from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rakesh Kumar confirmed the arrest and stated that efforts were underway to apprehend the other accused.

The Accused

The police have identified nine individuals as the primary accused in this case:

• Manish Pratap Singh (Noida)
• Enamul Ansari
• Ahmad Raza
• Vijay Giri
• Kanhaiya Kushwaha
• Hridyanand Singh
• Hareram Kumar
• Irfan

Despite these arrests, the survivor’s allegations suggest a broader network of complicity, including promises of marriage used to manipulate and control the victims.

Police Response and Investigation

SSP Rakesh Kumar acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating that the police were treating the survivor’s video as genuine. However, he noted that no other girls had come forward with similar accusations. During a recent raid on the company’s premises in Muzaffarpur, the police found no women working there, only over 50 men. The police’s initial response and contradictory statements have drawn criticism. While acknowledging the video’s authenticity, SSP Kumar suggested the case might involve elements of cheating and coercion rather than outright kidnapping and systematic rape. He also mentioned that the survivor's abortion was allegedly performed using local remedies, making it difficult to verify.

“We are not denying anything at this juncture and we are accepting the video that has been circulated as true. But this case seems to be of cheating, promising marriage to enter into a physical relationship and abortion. We asked the victim to provide details of the abortion and the clinic where she underwent the procedure but she said it was done with the help of local remedies and medicines,” the SSP stated.

The SSP also added that the police raided the company in Muzaffarpur, where over 50 men and no women were working. “They said they were beaten up at times but denied the rape of girls,” he claimed. 

However, the Muzaffarpur police said the company's records were inadequate, and multiple cases had been filed against it in several districts, “One case — FIR number 607/23 — was registered at the same Ahiyapur police station last year by a person, who accused it of cheating and extortion. Seven persons were arrested in this connection,” the SSP said in an interview with The Telegraph. 

Political Reactions

However, the case has ignited a political storm, with the opposition RJD accusing ruling NDA politicians of involvement in crimes against women. RJD spokesperson Bhai Virendra has alleged that some politicians exploit and abuse women, maintaining power through such criminal enterprises.

“This will keep happening here. We have a few politicians who supply girls to those in power. At times, they become ministers and MPs. Who forms fake companies? They are the people who resort to crimes against women and supply them to others. Such people even go to the Rajya Sabha. They will disclose everything if things are dealt with firmly,” RJD MLA and spokesperson Bhai Virendra said, as reported by The Telegraph. 

In contrast, the JDU has asserted that the police are actively investigating the case, “We have got information that some firm in Muzaffarpur used to lure girls on Facebook and misbehave with them. A case has been registered. The police are taking action,” JDU MLC and spokesperson Niraj Kumar claimed. 

Historical Parallels

This case evokes painful memories of the 2018 Muzaffarpur Balika Griha scandal, where at least 34 of 42 girls were raped and tortured at an NGO-run shelter home. The Supreme Court convicted the main accused, Brajesh Thakur, and 18 others in 2020, but the scars of that atrocity remain fresh.

The incident is widely held to be the inspiration for the Netflix film Bhakshak, which premiered earlier this year. The story revolves around a place called "Munnawarpur".  The CBI has not closed the case and continues to undertake investigations. It filed an FIR in Patna in July 2023 in connection with the disappearance of a girl from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. She was allegedly handed over to fake parents who went to Balika Griha to claim her.