Raids have intensified to track down former social welfare minister Manju Verma, who had stepped down from the Nitish Kumar cabinet in the wake of the Muzaffarpur sex abuse scandal, in connection with a case lodged against her under the Arms Act.

Her husband, former MLC Chandeshwar Prasad Verma, whose links with prime accused in the sex scandal case Brajesh Thakur prompted Manju to quit on August 8, is at present in jail in the same case.

Chandeshwar had reportedly spoken to Thakur, a key office-bearer of the NGO that ran the Balika Grih shelter home in Muzaffarpur, 17 times between January and June. At least 34 minor girls residing at the shelter home were found to have been sexually abused.

On Monday, the Supreme Court, which is monitoring the sexual abuse case, expressed strong displeasure over the police’s failure to arrest Manju. It has summoned the Bihar director-general of police to appear before it on November 27.

Authoritative sources said on Wednesday that the special investigation team headed by Manjhaul sub-divisional police officer Suryadev Kumar intensified the raids in and around Begusarai after being reprimanded by the police brass for their failure to arrest her.

The sources said they hoped Manju would surrender in court once it opens after Chhath. The case against her was lodged with the Cheria Bariarpur police station in Begusarai district. Begusarai superintendent of police Awakash Kumar denied lapses on the cops’ part and vowed “all-out efforts to arrest her”.