The former Law minister of Odisha Raghunath Mohanty and his wife, who are facing dowry charges, have been sent to judicial custody till the 2nd of April. Hearing the bail application of the Mohanty duo, the SDJM court in Balasore today passed the order to this effect.

The court has asked the Human Rights Protection Cell, HRPC , probing into the case to submit the up-to-date case diary for further hearing on the bail application on the 2nd of the coming month. The Mohanty couple, before being arrested last night near Kolkota by a team of HRPC, were said to be absconding since their daughter-in-law brought dowry allegation against them on the 14th of this month.

Mr Mohanty had resigned from the state cabinet just a day after the dowry related FIR was lodged against him and his family members in Balasore town police station.