Daughter-in-law files dowry complaint against BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahatab
By Mtarani Sahoo
BHUBANESWAR, AUG. 20: The Biju Janata Dal Lok Sabha member from Cuttack, Bhartruhari Mahatab, is in the soup. A police complaint against him, his wife and son has been lodged by his daughter-in-law Sakshi in a women’s police station in Bhopal for allegedly harassing her for dowry.
Sakshi, a resident of Mahadev Parisar locality in Bhopal, in her complaint has said she got married to Mahatab’s son Lokaranjan in December 2016. Her family had given jewellery worth over Rs 2.5 crore during the marriage to her in-laws. However, the in-laws always asked for more jewellery and money.
“A case has been registered against Bhartruhari Mahatab, his wife Mahasweta and son Lokaranjan under Indian Penal Code Sections 498 (a) (subjecting a woman to cruelty), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), and provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act. We have started a probe into the case,” said Ankit Jaiswal, said assistant superintendent of police, Bhopal.
Reacting to the development, Bhartruhari said, “The entire dispute is between two individuals (son and daughter-in-law). On a few occasions, as a father I tried to solve the matter. A meeting was held recently in New Delhi between two families. But no solution could be reached.”
The BJD lawmaker said his party president and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik knew about the dispute.
“Naveen Patnaik is my elder brother. He knows details about the incident and I have nothing to hide. Since the matter is under investigation, I don’t feel it right to speak more on this matter,” said Mahatab.
