Balasore: In a big setback to Rajashree Mohanty, son of former Law Minister Raghunath Mohanty, the Balasore District and Sessions Judge on Thursday rejected his bail plea. He is likely to move High Court challenging the order.

Earlier, Rajashree’s anticipatory bail plea was also rejected by the High Court. Rajashree is currently in judicial custody for 14 days following his arrest by the Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) on charges of torturing his wife for dowry. Meanwhile, Raghu Mohanty also failed to get bail in the case.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had ordered the HRPC to investigate the matter after Raghunath Mohanty’s daughter-in-law Barsha Soni Chaudhury had lodged a complaint against Mohanty, his son Rajashree, wife Pritilata, daughter Rupashree and son-in-law Suvendu Madhual on March 15. Following the allegations of dowry harassment, Law and Urban Development minister Mohanty had tendered his resignation on moral ground.