Bhubaneswar, March 19 (IANS) Former Odisha law minister Rahunath Mohanty, evading arrest in connection with a dowry torture case lodged against him by his daughter-in-law has sought an anticipatory bail, a lawyer said Tuesday.
Mohanty has moved the Odisha High Court at Cuttack, about 26 km from here. His wife Pritilata, daughter Rupashree and son in-law Subhendu Madhual too have filed similar petitions in the same court, a lawyer defending them told IANS.
Meanwhile Raja Shree Mohanty, the son of the former minister who was arrested Sunday has been remanded to a 14-days of judicial custody, a day later after his bail plea was rejected by a court in Balasore.
“We have moved another bail petition in the court of the district and sessions judge in Balasore. The matter is likely to be heard Thursday,” the lawyer said.
In her complaint at the police station in the district headquarters town of Balasore, about 220 km from here, the victim Barsa Swony Choudhury had alleged that her parents had given Rs.10 lakh at the time of the marriage as was demanded.
But her father-in-law, husband and the rest of the family were unhappy and insisted that her parents should pay Rs.25 lakh and a multi-utility vehicle.
The allegation prompted her father in law Raghunath Mohanty, a five-time legislator from Basta assembly constituency in Balasore district to resign from the state cabinet Friday, a day after she lodged the complaint.
Mohanty was holdings the portfolios of housing and urban development, law, and information technology.
The incident has triggered state wide protests with opposition parties seeking the arrest of the minister and his family members.
