Former Odisha minister Raghunath Mohanty arrested in dowry torture case

On the basis of specific information,a “crack” team of HRPC went to West Bengal and caught the Mohanty couple from Shantikunj Apartments at Betaitola near Shalimar station in Howrah district early this morning,he said.

The arrest was made after ascertaining their whereabouts through intensive investigation involving tapping of over 50 telephones,the DGP said,adding the Mohanty couple had taken two flats on rent in the same complex since March 20 in the name of different persons.

After completion of procedural formalities,the senior BJD leader and his wife were brought to Odisha and interrogated by an investigating team at Chandipur Marine Police Station,Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) and Chief of HRPC,B K Sharma said.

The arrest came after their daughter-in-law Barsa Swony Choudhury filed an FIR at Balasore Town Police station on March 14 accusing the then Law and Urban Development Ministerand four family members,including her husband,of physically and mentally torturing her for dowry.

Mohanty resigned from Naveen Patnaik Ministry the next day on March 15,while his son Raja Shree Mohanty was arrested near Cuttack on March 17 and sent to jail.

Besides Mohanty couple and their son,the FIR named their daughter Rupasree and son-in-law Suvendu Madhual,police said,adding Barsa alleged that Mohanty’s family tortured her demanding Rs 25 lakh,luxury vehicle and other things. She also accused her husband of having extra-marital relations.Thanking police for arresting the duo,Barsa said “I am happy to certain extent two more persons (Rupashree andher husband) need to arrested. All of them were equally responsible for torturing me.”