A team of officials of State Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) on Saturday arrived here to investigate the dowry torture case registered against former minister Raghunath Mohanty and his family members.
The five-member team led by DSP Subal Kar met the complainant Barsa Sony Choudhury (23), her father Kishore Kumar Choudhury, mother Sujata besides her uncle and aunt at their residence in Bhoisahi here and recorded their statements.
The aggrieved family members narrated the ‘inhuman’ treatment that Barsha was subjected to by her in-laws since the fifth day of her marriage.
A BTech in Information Technology, Barsa had married Rajasree Mohanty, an engineer with a private steel company at Jamshedpur on June 24, 2012.
On Thursday, Barsa lodged a complaint alleging that she was subjected to physical and mental torture by her husband, parents-in-law, sister-in-law and brother-in-law for `25 lakh and a Scorpio vehicle.
She had also alleged that her husband had illicit relationship with other women and she was often tortured when she questioned about it. Barsa demanded immediate arrest of her husband and in-laws. “I want justice. I demand arrest of my husband and in-laws who subjected me to mental and physical torture for dowry,” she said. Her father Kishore Choudhury said resignation of the minister will not settle the issue. “We would be happy after seeing the accused behind the bars. They made my daughter’s life hell,” he said.
On Friday, Raghunath had resigned from the State Cabinet. While a team of police officials has left for Bhubaneswar to arrest the accused persons, Rajasree has moved Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail.
DSP Kar said the victim and her family members cooperated with them during the preliminary investigation process.
Meanwhile, District Congress Committee (DCC) and BJP have demanded immediate arrest of former minister Mohanty and his family members. Congress activists took out a rally in the town and threatened to launch agitation throughout the State if they were not arrested soon.
The Women Congress leaders led by general secretary Minati Singh also met Balasore SP Amrita Dash demanding police action against the accused.
Meanwhile, two armed policemen have been deployed at the victim’s house for their safety.