Barsa Swony case: Former minister Raghunath Mohanty chargesheeted

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Baleswar, Mar 1:

The State Human Rights Protection Cell (SHRPC) of the police on Saturday filed a charge sheet against former Odisha minister and Biju Janata Dal leader Raghunath Mohanty, his son and three members of his family in a torture for dowry case in the court of the sub-divisional judicial magistrate(SDJM) in Baleswar

The chargesheet was submitted by Investigating Officer (IO) and Crime Branch DSP Subala Kar.

Reacting to the filing of the charge sheet, Barsa Swony hoped the charges pressed against her in-laws were based on her FIR.

“I would like to know if the charges pressed against them are based on my allegation. I hope they have not dropped any charges,” she said. She said she would try and find out from her lawyer if any charge had been left out.

Barsa reiterated her demand for the return of the ornaments given by her parents at the time of her marriage to Rajashree.

She also thanked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for his intervention, which she said had expedited the filing of the charge sheet.

“Had it not been for his intervention, the charge sheet perhaps would not have been filed even now,” she said.

It may be mentioned that Barsa had lodged an FIR with the Baleswar Town Police station on March 14, 2013 against her father-in-law Raghunath Mohanty, mother-in-law Pritilata, husband Rajashree, sister-in-law Rupashree Madhual and brother-in-law Suvendu Madhual alleging dowry torture.

She had alleged in her FIR that her parents had given Rs.10 lakh as dowry at the time of the wedding, as was demanded but  her in-laws were insisting that her parents pay Rs.25 lakh and also give a multi-utility vehicle.

The incident had cost Raghunath Mohanty dear as he was dropped by the BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik from the ministry and was subsequently arrested along with his wife Pritilata and son Rajashree.

Mohanty, a five-time legislator from Basta constituency in Baleswar district was holding the portfolios of housing and urban development, law and information technology.

Expressing disappointment at the delay by the SHRPC in filing the charge sheet against her in-laws and husband, Barsa had met the SCW chairperson Lopamudra Buxipatra in Bhubaneswar on February 18 and requested her intervention in the matter.

She had also met SHRPC ADG BK Sharma on January 14 seeking immediate submission of the charge sheet.

The state government on February 21 had provided security cover to her following an order by chief minister Naveen Patnaik after she met him.