Law is not taking its own course: Odisha Congress

Opposition Congress Tuesday alleged the law is not taking its own course in a dowry torture case involving senior BJD leader and former law minister Raghunath Mohanty.

Bhubaneswar: Taking strong exception to probe into the high-profile dowry torture case involving senior BJD leader and former law minister Raghunath Mohanty by Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC), Opposition Congress Tuesday alleged the law is not taking its own course in this case.

"Mr Chief Minister, law is not taking its own course when it comes to your party," said Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh while participating in a debate on crimes against women in the state Assembly. Recalling the Chief Minister`s statement that "Law will take its own course", the Congress leader claimed that law is not properly implemented in dowry torture case involving the senior BJD leader. Patnaik, who was present in the House during Singh`s statement remained silent and even didn`t respond to the opposition`s remark during his reply. Though Congress members did not make fresh demand of Mohanty`s arrest today in the assembly, the party`s chief whip while participating in the debate alleged that the HRPC was virtually not working. Earlier, Patnaik had ordered HRPC probe into the dowry torture case allegedly involving Mohanty. The law minister had resigned from the council of ministers on March 15, a day after his daughter-in-law Barsa Swony Choudhury lodged complaint at Balasore Town Police Station. "During 2012, the state HRPC has taken up investigation of one case of dowry torture, which is under investigation," Harichandan said. He said outside the house that the dowry torture case allegedly involving the senior BJD leader was intentionally given to HRPC with an aim to delay the process. Meanwhile, HRPC has already arrested Mohanty`s son Raja Sree and probing evidence against other accused persons comprising the former minister, his wife, his daughter and her husband. PTI