Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: The sensational dowry case that led to the resignation of Raghunath Mohanty from the Naveen Patnaik Cabinet in 2013 and his subsequent arrest took a new turn Wednesday when his son and estranged daughter-in-law announced their reunion.
‘‘The misunderstandings between the two families have been sorted out. We both have decided to live together as husband and wife,” said Mohanty’s daughter-in-law Barsa Swony at a press conference here with her husband Rajashree by her side.
Barsa, who had ensured the arrest of her father-in-law Ragunath Mohanty, mother-in-law and husband, credited Rajashree for the reunion.
“I will return to my in-laws’ house as their daughter, not as daughter-in-law. They have accepted me wholeheartedly,” Barsa said. Rajashree said, “We must thank Barsa Swony Foundation headed by senior journalist Pradosh Patnaik. The Foundation united us. The decision to reunite us is completely personal and no one has pressurised us for this.”
However, neither Mohanty nor his wife were present at the press conference.Asked about her in-laws, Barsa said, “We have planned a get-together in Balasore and all family members and relatives of both the families will be present there.”
Rajashree hoped that the reunion will set an example for others. “If we can unite after such a long battle, why
not others ?”
Orissa Police Crime Branch had arrested Raghunath Mohanty and his wife Pritilata in 2013 from an apartment in Kolkata where they were hiding to escape the police after their daughter-in-law Barsa lodged a formal complaint.
Barsa had filed a case against husband Rajashree and his family, alleging that her in-laws had demanded `25 lakh and a vehicle from her as dowry but when she declined to pay it, they started torturing her.
Barsa Swony Foundation was set up by Pradosh Patnaik with the help of Barsa to support tortured and downtrodden women.
