BJD urges Mohanty to surrender before court

Ex-Odisha minister Raghunath Mohanty continues to evade police after being named in dowry harassment case

As Opposition demand grew stronger for arrest of ex-minister Raghunath Mohanty in dowry torture case, a beleaguered Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday urged Mohanty to surrender before the court for the sake of party image, which has suffered a dent since he went underground to avoid police action.

"He has no options but to surrender and apply for bail. It will be good for the party," said Prabhat Kumar Tripathy, chief whip of BJD.

Mohanty, a five-time BJD MLA from Basta in Balasore district, has been absconding since Mar 21, when the High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea and struck down his appeal to quash the FIR filed by his daughter-in-law regarding dowry demand and torture case.

Opposition parties continued to create ruckus in the assembly demanding that the Chief Minister should issue a statement regarding whereabouts of Mohanty, who earlier held the portfolio of Law, Urban Development and IT in state cabinet. The speaker on Tuesday adjourned the house till April 2, as members stormed the well.

"It is clear that the Chief Minister, who always advocates free and transparent governance, is protecting a criminal," said Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, a senior Congress leader.

The former minister resigned on March 15 on moral grounds while his has been arrested following filing of FIR. However, since cases have been registered against all the family members of Mohanty, Opposition parties have been demanding the arrest of the ex-minister and his family members. Meanwhile, speculation is rife that Mohanty could surrender at Balasore court on Tuesday. However neither he nor his family members turned up before the court.