High-profile law, Urban Development and IT Minister Raghunath Mohanty on Friday resigned form the Council of Ministers, 12 hours after the charges of dowry torture was levelled against him and his family members by his daughter-in- law. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik referred the case for investigation by the Human Rights Protection Cell without relying on the Baleswar police.
According to highly-placed sources, soon after an FIR was filed before the Baleswar Town Police on Thursday night by Barsa Soni Choudhury, daughter-in-law of Minister Mohanty, accusing her husband, father-in-law and mother-in law and their daughter and son-in-law of torturing her physically and mentally for dowry since her marriage in June, 2012, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had asked Mohanty to tender his resignation immediately. However, Mohanty, who had sought time till morning, put in his papers meeting the Chief Minister at the Naveen Nivas at around 8.45 am.
On the basis of the FIR of Barsa, Baleswar police had registered a case under Sections 498(A), 506, 448 and 34 of the IPC and 4 of the DP Act against the Minister, his son Raja Shree Mohanty, wife Pritilata Mohanty, daughter Rupashree Madhual and son-in law Dr Suvendu Madhual. Barsa did it after visiting the district SP and narrating her ordeal.
Notably, the marriage between Barsa and Raja Shree was solemnised on June 24 last year as per the Hindu rites. During the time of marriage along with gold ornaments of about 2kg and other household articles, `10 lakh had been given in dowry. Barsa is a B tech in IT stream and the proposal had come from the groom’s end, informed her father Kishore Kumar Choudhary, an A class electrical contractor.
According to Barsa, she couldn’t see her husband after the fourth day of their marriage. Raja Shree stayed in Bhubaneswar under some pretext or the other. She was shocked when she came to know that her husband had extramarital relationship with several other women. Despite her protest, things went unabated and rather, Raja Shree abused her in filthy languages. Even her parents were not spared.
She further alleged that she was not given adequate food and other facilities during the stay in the in- laws’ house. She was mentally and physically tortured by all members, mostly by her husband and mother -in- law. Subsequently, the in -laws placed fresh demands for `25 lakh and a Scorpio make SUV from her parents.
When the Barsa brought to the notice of Minister Mohanty about the fresh dowry, the latter too asked her to meet the same.
Mohanty’s son moves HC for advance bail
Cuttack: Apparently facing imminent arrest, Raja Shree Mohanty, son of beleaguered BJD leader Raghunath Mohanty, on Friday moved the Odisha High Court seeking anticipatory bail. “The charges levelled against my client are politically motivated. They are false and fabricated,” said Raja’s counsel SK Dasmohapatra after moving the advance bail. It was not known why the remaining family members have not filed petitions for the their anticipatory bail. PNS