Kendrapada BJD MLA and former Minister Shashi Bhusan Behera’s daughter in-law has filed a cased of domestic violence (DV) and dowry harassment against her husband and in-laws.

Ronali Behera (31) in her police complaint has alleged that she was subjected to mental and physical abuse by her husband, her parents in-law, sister in-law and aunt-in law and was being constantly threatened to comply to their financial demands.

Ronali and Satya Prakash (35) had tied the knot in Bhubaneswar in 2021. As per reports, at the time of marriage, Satya Prakash’s parents had asked the bride’s family not to give any wooden furniture or household articles and in lieu of that, they had wanted gold ornaments for the couple along with clothes for the entire family. As per custom, Ronali’s family was also asked to give silver plates instead of brass plates.

Ronali’s father had complied to all the demands; but barely 10 days after coming to her in-laws place, Satya’s parents allegedly asked her to hand over all her jewellery. On the 12th day when Ronali was set to go to her parents’ place, her in-laws asked her to get all her old jewelleries from her home. When she conveyed that her old ornaments were exchanged during marriage, they allegedly demanded money including Rs 60,000 for videography and photography during the marriage.

When she expressed her father’s financial inability, she was allegedly abused and humiliated by both her mother-in-law and sister in-law in obscene language.

Further, Ronali alleged that her husband was involved with another woman and did not give her any attention or care right from the marriage. He did not even support her financially to pursue her Phd despite his being a lawyer by profession and earning over Rs 3 lakh per annum apart from being politically active in his father’s constituency, the FIR stated.

She has even alleged that when she desperately went to her father in-law for help, he asked her to be compliant in order to lead a peaceful life. After she went back to her parental home, none of her in-laws made any effort to bring her back, she claimed.