Panda in a still from Swapna Niyika. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, March 6: Popular jatra actor Daitari Panda is in a soup after dowry allegations were brought against him today.

His daughter-in-law submitted a memorandum with the Odisha Human Rights Commission, alleging inaction of Bhadrak police to register a dowry complaint against her husband and in-laws.

Sagarika Panda, 20, a native of Balasore, said her husband Jagabandhu Panda, also a television actor, used to torture her for a dowry of Rs 2 lakh. “My family had given me gold ornaments weighing around 150 grams and other assets along with cash of Rs 3 lakh. But, his family members have been demanding an additional Rs 2 lakh as dowry. They have been torturing me since one-and-a-half months of our marriage,” said Sagarika.

She also alleged that her in-laws were forcing her into a relationship with her brother-in-law. The couple were married on February 23, 2012.

Sagarika, a second-year science student of Plus Three, said the torture had forced her to leave their house one year ago. “Finally, I decided to return to my parents’ home in July last. At that time, my family members had tried for a compromise. But when we lost hope, I decided to lodge a complaint,” alleged Sagarika. She said the police had refused to take her complaint.

On the other hand, Daitari said: “We had never demanded dowry from their family. The allegations are completely baseless and her family members have forcefully taken her away and they have instigated her to lodge complaint.” Denying the charge, cops at Bhadrak Town police station said they had advised her to lodge the complaint at the concerned police station under which her in-laws were staying.