Balasore, Mar 17: Rajashree Mohanty, son of former Odisha Law and Urban Development Minister Raghunath Mohanty was arrested Saturday night on charge of dowry atrocities committed against his wife.
The minister had to resign last week after his daughter-in-law filed a complaint of dowry atrocities.
Meanwhile, the former minister Raghunath Mohanty, his wife Pritilata, daughter Rupashree and son-in-law Shubhendhu Maduwal have reportedly gone underground and their residences in Balasore and Basta have been found locked by police.
Four police teams have been formed to carry out raids in Bhubaneswar, Amardha Road, Gopalgaon and Cuttack.
Meanwile, the chief minister Naveen Patnaik has handed over the entire case for probe to the Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC), a team of which went to daughter-in-law Varsha Soni's residence in Balasore.
After taking records of the case from Balasore SP Amrita Das, the team went to Varsha Soni's father's residence. Varsha Soni's father Kishor Kumar Chaudhury was earlier reluctant to reveal details, but after assurance from the HRPC officials, he revealed facts about the trauma that his daughter underwent.
Varsha Soni alleged that three youths wearing helmets on a motorbike came and threatened her family if they pursued the case further. She told the police that she and her family members feared for their lives, as her father-in-law was a political strongman from Basta constituency.
Meanwhile, political parties have demanded the arrest of BJD leader Raghunath Mohanty on charge of dowry torture.
BJP Mahila Morcha leader Surama Padhi alleged that no police action has been taken 48 hours after the daughter-in-law lodged her complaint with the police.
"Had the chief minister wanted, he could have ordered the police to arrest Raghunath Mohanty when he had gone to the CM's residence to hand over his resignation", Padhi said.
