Odisha minister quits over dowry complaint

Odisha Law, Housing and Urban Development Minister Raghunath Mohanty on Friday resigned from the state cabinet after the local police in his home district Balasore filed a dowry case against him and other members of his family, including wife Pritilata and son Raja.

The case has been registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Mohanty’s daughter-in-law Barsa Soni Choudhury. His resignation has already been accepted by the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

“I have tendered my resignation on moral grounds and to cooperate with the investigations. The law will take its own course,” Mohanty who is also a senior member of the ruling Biju Janata Dal(BJD) told journalists soon after handing over his resignation letter to the chief minister at the latter’s residence.

In her complaint, Barsa who had married the former minister’s son in June last year, has alleged that she had been physically and mentally tortured by her husband and in-laws for dowry immediately after her marriage.

“They were demanding Rs 25 lakh from my parents besides an SUV. I tolerated their torture for eight months and then decided to file a police complaint when the physical and mental agony became intolerable,” the young woman has alleged.

Her husband also had an extra-marital affair which she came to know after marriage.
However, Mohanty, a five-time legislator from the Basta assembly seat in Balasore district, has strongly rejected the allegations.

 “All these allegations are false and fabricated. The truth will come out soon,” he said.

Barsa’s father Kishore Choudhury, an electrical contractor by profession, has demanded the immediate arrest of the senior BJD leader and members of his family.
The chief minister who also heads the home department has handed over the case to human rights protection cell of the state police for a detailed investigation.
 “In order to ensure a free and fair investigation, the case has been transferred to human rights protection cell,” the chief minister told reporters.

The development had its impact in the state assembly on Friday which is on its budget session now.

As soon as the House sat for the day, members of the Congress led by leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh were on their toes demanding a statement from the chief minister on the issue. Speaker Pradip Amat had to adjourn the House repeatedly to maintain order.

When the chief minister made a statement in the House in the afternoon session confirming his senior colleague’s resignation, the Opposition members continued to disrupt the proceedings demanding the former minister’s immediate arrest.
Subsequently, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.