<p> Odisha's Law and Urban Development Minister Raghunath Mohanty today resigned on "moral grounds" after his daughter-in-law filed a dowry case against him and his family members.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The minister rushed to Naveen Nivas, residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and tendered his resignation in the wake of registration of a case at Balasore Town Police Station against him and his family members.<br /><br />"I have submitted my resignation to the Chief Minister on moral grounds," Mohanty told reporters outside Naveen Nivas, while refuting the charges levelled by Barsha Sony Mohanty, his daughter-in-law.<br /><br />Barsha had lodged an FIR against the minister, his wife Pritilata, his son Rajasree and other members of family last night.<br /><br />"Allegation against me and my family is totally false and baseless. The people of Balasore know the truth. Let the law take its own course," said Mohanty, five-time MLA from Basta constituency in Balasore district.<br /><br />Mohanty, MLA for fifth consecutive term, had been a minister since 2000 and held important portfolios including parliamentary affairs, industries and IT.<br /><br />On the basis of the complaint lodged by Barsha, a case has been registered against the minister and others under section 498 (A), 506, 448 and 34 of IPC, police said.<br /><br />In her FIR, the woman said she married Rajasree on June 24, 2012. During marriage, her parents had given Rs 10 lakh and other household articles. <br /><br />Barsha alleged that she was subjected to physical and mental torture for dowry. "They further demanded a Scorpio vehicle and Rs 25 lakh cash," she said in her FIR,<br /><br />Barsha said she was shocked by the attitude of her mother-in-law and brought the matter to the notice of her husband and the father-in-law.<br /><br />However, both her husband and father-in-law suggested that Barsha bring more dowry as demanded by the mother-in-law, she alleged.<br /><br />Barsha, who has now been staying at her parents house due to alleged torture, claimed that there was an attempt to kidnap and kill her on March 13.<br /><br />However, Barsha said she survived as other members of her family reached the place while some unknown people were about to abduct her.<br /></p>
<p> Odisha's Law and Urban Development Minister Raghunath Mohanty today resigned on "moral grounds" after his daughter-in-law filed a dowry case against him and his family members.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The minister rushed to Naveen Nivas, residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and tendered his resignation in the wake of registration of a case at Balasore Town Police Station against him and his family members.<br /><br />"I have submitted my resignation to the Chief Minister on moral grounds," Mohanty told reporters outside Naveen Nivas, while refuting the charges levelled by Barsha Sony Mohanty, his daughter-in-law.<br /><br />Barsha had lodged an FIR against the minister, his wife Pritilata, his son Rajasree and other members of family last night.<br /><br />"Allegation against me and my family is totally false and baseless. The people of Balasore know the truth. Let the law take its own course," said Mohanty, five-time MLA from Basta constituency in Balasore district.<br /><br />Mohanty, MLA for fifth consecutive term, had been a minister since 2000 and held important portfolios including parliamentary affairs, industries and IT.<br /><br />On the basis of the complaint lodged by Barsha, a case has been registered against the minister and others under section 498 (A), 506, 448 and 34 of IPC, police said.<br /><br />In her FIR, the woman said she married Rajasree on June 24, 2012. During marriage, her parents had given Rs 10 lakh and other household articles. <br /><br />Barsha alleged that she was subjected to physical and mental torture for dowry. "They further demanded a Scorpio vehicle and Rs 25 lakh cash," she said in her FIR,<br /><br />Barsha said she was shocked by the attitude of her mother-in-law and brought the matter to the notice of her husband and the father-in-law.<br /><br />However, both her husband and father-in-law suggested that Barsha bring more dowry as demanded by the mother-in-law, she alleged.<br /><br />Barsha, who has now been staying at her parents house due to alleged torture, claimed that there was an attempt to kidnap and kill her on March 13.<br /><br />However, Barsha said she survived as other members of her family reached the place while some unknown people were about to abduct her.<br /></p>