"It’s been a terribly lone battle, the trauma has made me tough"

Too many. I have to really count the number of cases. But I have got used to it. This has become part of my life. My husband first initiated the divorce case in July, 1996 after dumping me at Kanke, Ranchi. None of the cases is settled though.

But why is it happening to you all the time?

I don’t know. Maybe because I had committed some sin in my previous life. I have often tried to findan answer but it is yet to come.

Are you a strong-willed person?

No, I was very soft in my childhood. But the torture and trauma I went through later made me tough.

Where do you get the strength to fight, particularly when it is against the high and mighty ?

Strength from within. Also God and truth are with me.

You have been fighting for justice for several years now and you are yet to get it. Do you feel justice is eluding you?

Justice is being delayed and I have mentally accepted it. I have faith in judiciary and am hopeful of justice at the end. Even if it is delayed, I am sure that it will come my way.

Then why are you demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Intelligence into the gang-rape case while the Chief Minister J.B.Patnaik has already ordered a judicial inquiry?

Since all my cases are now being probed by the CBI, I want this to be included also. Besides, it would be quick too.

Does your family members support you in your fight?

Pause. Theyhave not really been supportive in the long run. Initially they did, but later I did not have their support. My brothers and sisters asked me to come to Delhi and start a fresh life forgetting everything. But I insisted on staying here to fight the cases.

Why are they not supportive?

Because they are not tough like me. My father is a heart patient. Besides, they were under pressure from the high and mighty.

So you are fighting a lone battle!

Yeah. A terribly lone battle.

You must be feeling very lonely also.

Very lonely. From June last I have been staying alone in this house (her parents’ house in the Nayapalli area). There is nobody, not even servants, to talk to here. You can imagine how lonely it can become.

Aren’t your parents staying here?

No. They are staying somewhere in Bombay.

How do you sustain yourself? Mentally and financially.

As far as the financial part is concerned,I will not like to discuss it publicly. Mental… from myself, god and mywell wishers.

Do you have faith in the present political system?

I don’t know much about politics, the ministers, their names. I am not really interested in it.

Will you join politics?

I am now concentrating on my cases. I don’t know what will happen in the future.

Coming to the alleged gang-rape, you have been complaining about the laxity in the security provided to you.

I have documentary evidence to prove how I had been crying hoarse about tightening the security. In the past one year I must have written four or five letters to the SP, Khurda about the inadequacy of the security provided to me. But unfortunately, there had been no response to my pleas. Look, I was supposed to be the most protected woman in the state after the High Court directed the state government to provide security to me. Even then I was gang-raped. From this you can imagine what kind of security I had.

Were you medically examined by a team of 10 doctors?

That’s not correct. Only one lady doctorexamined me. The government is trying to mislead.

Were you seen at a dhaba having dinner before the crime was committed?

That’s concocted, fabricated and false. It is like the story of four carpenters working in former advocate general Indrajit Ray’s official residence when I was attempted to be raped. The dhaba owner, in this case, has been planted by J.B.Patnaik to dilute the case.

What was so urgent that you had to travel to Cuttack that late in the night to meet your lawyer Debasish Panda?

He had been avoiding me for the last one month. He was also putting pressure on me to have a reconciliation with my husband, Subash Mishra. He is also part of the conspiracy.

Why did you not change him then?

You need to give your lawyer some time and that’s what I was doing.

Will you go back to your husband?

Never.