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Bhubaneswar: As former Odisha minister Raghunath Mohanty continues to evade police after being named in a dowry harassment case, the ruling BJD on Tuesday said he must surrender without delay in the party's interest.
"It is better for Mohanty to surrender in the interest of the ruling party," Government Chief Whip Pravat Tripathy told reporters here in reply to a question.
"I will like Mohanty to surrender or immediately secure bail from an appropriate court of law," he said.
Stating that Mohanty has limited options, Tripathy said the former minister should surrender or the police would have to locate him.
Tripathy, however, said none from the ruling party would pressurise Mohanty to surrender.
"Though the dowry torture case was earlier considered as a family affair of Mohanty, now it appears to be affecting the credibility of the party. Though Mohanty resigned from the ministry, he continues to be vice-president of the ruling BJD," a minister said requesting anonymity.
Neither the police nor the Assembly have any information about the whereabouts of the former minister.
Mohanty had resigned as minister on March 15, a day after his daughter-in-law Barsa Swony Choudhury lodged an FIR against him and family members at the Balasore Town Police station.
