Former minister Raghunath Mohanty’s son Raja Shree Mohanty, who was arrested for allegedly torturing his wife for dowry, was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days after his bail application was rejected by a court here on Monday.
Raja Shree (28), a native of Shyamsundarpur under Basta police limits, was produced before Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) of Balasore Ranjan Kumar Sutar. He was arrested by the Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) near Choudwar in Cuttack on Sunday.
Sources said Raja Shree’s anticipatory bail application was rejected by the High Court on Saturday. His counsel Gouri Kumar Barik said after rejection of bail petition by the SDJM, a fresh bail application had been filed in the court of district sessions judge. “The petition will be heard on March 21,” he informed.
Raja Shree was arrested in the wake of a dowry torture case filed against him by his wife Barsa Swony Mohanty (23) of Bhoisahi here. Apart from Raja Shree, a case under Sections 498 (a), 448, 506 and 34 of the IPC has also been registered against Raghunath, his wife Pritilata, daughter Rupashree and son-in-law Suvendu Madhual.
After the case was registered, Raghunath had to resign as Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Law and IT on March 15. He has refuted the allegations as false and fabricated. A team of HRPC officials led by DSP Subal Kar is investigating the case.
Barsa’s lawyer Amar Nanda said prima facie evidences indicated that she was tortured both physically and mentally for dowry. Barsa, a BTech in Information Technology, has also accused Raja Shree, who works as an engineer in a private steel plant in Jamshedpur, of having extra-marital affairs.
Appreciating the efforts of police for registering the case immediately and HRPC for arresting Raja Shree, she demanded arrest of the former minister, his wife, daughter and son-in-law. “I want to see all of them behind the bars. They have spoiled my life,” she said. Raja Shree was interrogated by the HRPC team before he was produced in the court.
As the arrest of the minister was demanded from various quarters, he remained incommunicado since the day of his resignation. He was neither seen at the Assembly nor at his residence, while his mobile phone remained switched off. His other family members, accused in the case, are also absconding.