Patna: Director-general of police K.S. Dwivedi asserted on Tuesday that there was no need for a central investigation into the Muzaffarpur shelter home horrors, but Union home minister Rajnath Singh said the Centre will consider a CBI probe if the state recommends it.

The DGP's statement came at a hurriedly called media conference - with social welfare principal secretary Atul Prasad present - on the rape of at least 29 inmates of the Balika Grih run by an NGO, Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti.

"We don't think there is any need for a CBI probe. We are satisfied with the investigations being done by the police. The government has not taken any decision in this regard," Dwivedi said.

Dwivedi argued that the police took prompt action in the case after an FIR was registered by the social welfare department on May 31.

"Eight persons were arrested on June 2 and the statements of the girls were recorded before a judicial magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC on June 4. The girls were later shifted to Patna and Mokama and their medical examination was conducted," he said.

So far, 10 of the 11 accused have been arrested. Dilip Kumar Verma, the chairman of the NGO, is absconding.

"The charges against all the 11 accused have been verified to be true," Dwivedi said.

The girls are undergoing psychotherapy and counselling at Mokama hospital under a team from AIIMS Delhi and a few Bangalore-based private organisations.

"We have learnt many lessons," said Prasad. "We decided to go for social audit in June 2017 of all institutions having residential facilities under our department. We had not even imagined such things (were happening). We had thought that some administrative lapses would come to light."

Later, chief minister Nitish Kumar discussed the issue with Dwivedi and Prasad at his chamber in the Assembly. Additional director-general of police (headquarters) S.K. Singhal was also present.