Raghunath Mohanty removed from post of BJD vice-president

BHUBANESWAR: Hours after being arrestedin a torture for dowry case, former Odisha minister Raghunath Mohanty was today removed as BJD vice-president.

"BJD president Naveen Patnaik has removed Basta MLA Raghunath Mohanty from the post of BJD vice-president," a press release issued by the party said.

He was arrested along with his wife Pritilata from West Bengal during the day and remanded to judicial custody till April 2 after evading the police for a fortnight since the dowry torture case was slapped by his daughter-in-law.

The five-time MLA from Basta in Balasore district had a meteoric rise in the party and became one of the five vice-presidents for his proximity with the party chief. He was given the post in recent BJD organisational poll.

Earlier in the day, Patnaik told reporters in Delhi that the party was seriosuly considering whether to allow Mohanty continue in the party post.

Elected as Janata Dal candidate in 1990 and 1995, he had successfully contested elections from Basta seat as BJD candidate in 2000, 2004 and 2009 elections.

He had resigned from the ministry on March 15, a day after his daughter-in-law Basra Swony Choudhury lodged a dowry torture case against him and four members of his family.