Odisha MLA’s daughter in-law files DV case, alleges dowry torture

Nuapatna: In yet another shocker, daughter in-law of BJD MLA Shashi Bhusan Behera has filed a domestic violence case and alleged dowry harassment against her husband and in-laws.

The victim Ronali Behera (31) has alleged in her police complaint that she was subjected to mental and physical abuse not just by her husband but by her parents in-law, sister in-law and aunt-in law and was being constantly threatened to comply to their financial demands.

As per reports, Ronali and Satya Prakash (35) had tied the knot in Bhubaneswar in 2021. At the time of marriage, the bridegroom’s parents had asked the bride’s family not to give any wooden furniture  or household articles and in lieu of that, they had categorically stated that in lieu of that , they had demanded gold ornaments for the couple along with clothes for the entire family. Ronali’s family was also asked to give silver plates instead of brass plates, as per custom.

Ronali’s father had complied to all the demands but barely 10 days  after coming to her in-laws place, Satya’s parents asked her to hand over all her jewellery. On the 12th day, when Ronali was set to go to her parents’ place, her in-laws asked her to get all her old jewelry from her home. When she conveyed that her old ornaments were exchanged during marriage, they demanded money including Rs 60,000 for videography and photography during marriage.

When she expressed her father’s inability to pay due to financial crunch, she was abused and humiliated by both her mother and sister in-law in obscene language.

Further, Ronali alleged that her husband was involved with another woman and did not give her any attention or care right from marriage. He did not even support her financially to pursue her PHd despite being a lawyer by profession and earning over Rs 3 lakh per annum apart from being politically active in his father’s constituency, the FIR stated.

She has even alleged that when she desperately went to her father in-law for help, he asked her to be complaint in order to lead a peaceful life. After she went back to her parental home, her in-laws made excused and none of them made any effort to bring her back, she claimed.