Congress holds Naveen responsible for ex-minister's escape

With Odisha's former law minister Raghunath Mohanty evading arrest since he resigned from the council of ministers after being accused in a dowry torture case, the Opposition Congress today held Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik responsible for his "escape".
"How did the Chief Minister allow Mohanty to escape and abscond after he tendered resignation from the ministry?" asked Congress Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan, while speaking in a debate on the demand of the home department.
Mohanty resigned from the ministry on March 15, a day after his daughter-in-law Basra Swony Choudhury filed an FIR against the ex-minister's family members alleging physical and mental torture for dowry.

The Opposition party, which remained silent on the issue for four days after stalling the House for two days, took up the matter afresh.
"When Mohanty went to the Chief Minister's residence to submit resignation on March 15, the latter should have asked the accused leader to cooperate with the police. But, it appears that Patnaik has not done so," Harichandan said.
Targeting Patnaik, the Congress Chief Whip said, "The Chief Minister is accountable to the people of Odisha on the escape of Mohanty."

Though it was expected that Mohanty would surrender after High Court quashed his writ petition and refused to give any protection, Harichandan pointed out that the ex-minister still remained unreachable for the police.

A court in Balasore had, meanwhile, denied bail to Mohanty's son Raja Shree on the ground that the other accused persons comprising the ex-minister, his wife, daughter and son-in-law have not been arrested, Harichandan pointed out.
Referring to Congress members' silence for the past four days, Harichandan said that the people outside the House are saying many things.
"You cannot stop people speaking anything," he added.