Barsa Swony Chaudhury, daughter-in-law of former Minister Raghunath Mohanty and estranged wife of Rajashree Mohanty, was awarded a sum of Rs16,000 per month as alimony towards her maintenance by the Family Court here.
While Barsa sought a maintenance amount of Rs60,000 per month from her husband, Judge Girish Kumar Mishra, while pronouncing the verdict on Monday, pegged it at Rs16,000.
The court directed Rajashree to pay the amount from September 26, 2013, the date of filing of the case by Barsa, under Section 125 Cr Pc.
He should pay the arrear within next six months from the date of the order, the court ordered.
It may be recalled the same court on January 14 last, while adjudicating a case of interim maintenance, had awarded Rs20,000 as monthly alimony, besides Rs5,000 as litigation expenses to Barsa.
With the current order, Rajashree will pay Rs16,000 per month from September 2013 to May 2015 and then onwards Rs20,000 per month till disposal of the divorce case.
Though Barsa and Rajashree said that they respect the order, Barsa added that the amount is insufficient as she is pursuing higher education away from Baleswar.
The episode of court battle began after Barsa on March 13, 2013 filed a dowry torture compliant in the Town police station, Baleswar.
She had alleged Minister Raghunath and his wife Pritilata, their married daughter Rupashree and son-in-law Suvendu Madhual, besides Rajashree had tortured her. Raghunath had to resign as Minister in the wake of much hue and cry and the case was taken over by the HRPC. Rajashree while was arrested from Chaudwar, Raghunath and his wife, who were at large, were taken into custody from Kolkata on March 30, 2013.