Taking strong exception to the probe into the high-profile dowry torture case involving senior BJD leader and former law Minister Raghunath Mohanty by the Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC), opposition Congress on Tuesday alleged that law is not taking its own course in this case.
"Mr Chief Minister, law is not taking its own course when it comes to your party," said leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh while participating in a debate on crimes against women in the State Assembly.
Referring to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's oft-repeated statement that "law will take its own course", Singh claimed that law is not being properly implemented in this dowry torture case involving a senior BJD leader.
Patnaik, who was present in the House during Singh's statement, remained silent and did not even respond to the Opposition's remark during his reply to the debate.
Though Congress members did not make fresh demand of Mohanty's arrest on Tuesday in the Assembly, party Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan alleged that the HRPC is virtually not working.
Earlier, the Chief Minister had ordered the HRPC probe into the dowry torture case. Mohanty had resigned from the Council of Ministers on March 15, a day after his daughter-in-law Barsasoni Choudhury lodged a complaint at the Baleswar Town Police Station.
"During 2012, the HRPC has taken up investigation of one case of dowry torture, which is under investigation," Harichandan said. The dowry torture case allegedly involving Mohanty has intentionally been given to the HRPC with an aim to delay the process, he alleged.
Meanwhile, the HRPC has arrested Mohanty's son Raja Shree and is probing evidences against the other accused persons, Mohanty, his wife, his daughter and her husband.