Odisha dowry case: Victim demands immediate arrest of former minister

Bhubaneswar: The daughter-in-law of former Odisha law minister Raghunath Mohanty on Saturday called for the immediate arrest of her husband and in-laws over allegations of torture for dowry. “I demand arrest of my in-laws who subjected me to severe mental and physical torture for dowry,” Barshasony Choudhury, who had married Mohanty’s son Rajasree in June last year, told reporters after recording her statement before the Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) of the police. Stating that she would be happy after seeing them (in-laws) behind bars, Barshasony said she alone knew the trauma she had undergone over dowry.  "I have been subjected to both physical and mental harassment by my in-laws and husband," Barshasony said. Mohanty had on Friday resigned from the Naveen Patnaik cabinet a few hours after Barshasony lodged a complaint at the Balasore Town Police Station. She has alleged that her in-laws subjected her to torture on their demand of Rs 25 lakh cash and a Scorpio vehicle. “I will fully cooperate with the investigation. But they must be arrested and sent to jail immediately,” Barshasony said. She added that she had given a full account of her time at her in-laws’ house after marriage. The HRPC team led by DSP Subal Kar recorded Barshasony and her parents’ statements at their Balasore residence. “The family members of complainant Barshasony have fully cooperated with the team in the investigation process,” Kar said. Meanwhile, her husband Rajasree has moved Odisha High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The former law minister did not attend Assembly on Saturday nor could he be contacted over phone. PTI