Odisha Minister for Law, Housing and Urban Development Raghunath Mohanty on Friday quit his post after his daughter-in-law filed a dowry harassment case against him and his family members.
Mr. Mohanty handed over his resignation letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who forwarded it to Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare. The resignation was accepted.
Barsha Sony Mohanty lodged a complaint at the Balasore Town police station on Thursday alleging harassment for dowry. A case was registered against Mr. Mohanty and others under Sections 498(A), 506, 448 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
Apart from Mr. Mohanty, the First Information Report named his wife, his son and other members of the family. The marriage took place last June. Although he resigned in the morning, the issue rocked the Assembly as soon as the House assembled. Opposition Congress members disrupted the proceedings by storming into the well demanding Mr. Mohanty’s arrest.
Mr. Patnaik made a statement saying Mr. Mohanty had resigned on moral grounds.
The case had been handed over to the Human Rights Protection Cell of the State police for free and fair investigation, the Chief Minister said.