BHUBANESWAR: Champua MLA Sanatan Mahakud for the first time appeared before the Mahila police here on Tuesday, six months after a woman, claiming to be his daughter-in-law, levelled allegations of torture against him.
The complainant, Kabita Mahakud, had alleged that she was not allowed to meet or stay with her husband Pankaj Mahakud as their marriage was not approved by the latter’s family. She had also named Sanatan’s son-in-law Dinabandhu Barik in her complaint.
The legislator dismissed the allegations as baseless. “We will take a legal route to handle the charges levelled against us,” he told mediapersons. The MLA was also seen at Mahila police station on Monday night. He, however, left the premises within around 15 minutes.
DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said the MLA was questioned thoroughly about the allegations levelled by the woman. “The MLA said his daughter-in-law was at his house in Champua, and he did not know anything about the complainant,” Bhoi said.
On March 18, a summon was issued to Pankaj to appear before police within 15 days. The role of police came under scanner when an Inspector-ranked officer of Mahila police went to Champua on April 11 to record the statement of Pankaj who had already jumped the summon’s deadline.
On April 18, Police Commissioner YB Khurania ordered an inquiry into role of the senior police officer. Within a couple of weeks, the officer was shifted to a different post. With controversy surrounding the high profile case, police sources said Sanatan or Pankaj may be summoned again for a second round of questioning.
Kabita claimed that she married Pankaj in 2012 after separating from her first husband Debasis Mahakud.
The couple was living in Motu in Malkangiri district after marriage. She alleged that since Sanatan was not in favour of her marriage, he forcibly took her husband Pankaj to Champua in August, 2015 and kept him in confinement.
Basing on Kavita’s complaint, Mahila Police had registered a case under Sections 498 A, 341, 294 and 34 on March 1.