Bhubaneswar, March 1: A 29-year-old woman claiming to be the daughter-in-law of Independent Champua MLA Sanatan Mahakud, one of the richest legislators of the state, today alleged harassment by the politician over her marriage with his elder son Pankaj.
The woman, identified as Kavita Mahakud, today lodged a complaint with the Mahila Police Station here. Sanatan, who had shot into the limelight ahead of the 2014 general elections by declaring assets worth Rs 69 crore, denied the allegations.
Kavita alleged that she had been subjected to mental and physical torture besides being intimidated by the legislator and his relatives. She claimed that Pankaj had had a love marriage with her in March 2014.
"He married me following Hindu tradition and since then we have been living together. He is the father of my one-year-old daughter. But last September, Pankaj left our home at Malkangiri with one of his relatives and did not return," said Kavita, adding that Sanatan had forced his son to stay away from her. "Sanatan and his son-in-law Dinabandhu have been threatening to kill me. In February, when I visited the state commission for women to lodge a complaint, they had issued threats," said Kavita, adding that the legislator has forced Pankaj to marry again. She threatened to commit suicide with her children in front of the legislator if she was denied justice.
She produced some photographs of her with Pankaj to substantiate her claims.
Sanatan, on the other hand, denied the allegations. "My daughter-in-law is at my house. I don't know about any other woman who is claiming to be my daughter-in-law. I don't know who has filed this case. I only recognise my daughter-in-law who stays in my house," said the 57-year-old Independent legislator.
Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said: "We have registered a case under section 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty), 341 (wrongful restraint), 294 (use of obscene language) and 34 (crime done by more than one person) of Indian Penal Code. Further investigation is on," said Bhoi.
Sanatan had contested the 2009 Assembly elections from Champua on a Congress ticket. He quit the party and fought the 2014 elections independently. In July last year, the enforcement directorate had conducted raids at 15 places, including the residence of Sanatan, in Keonjhar district in connection with the mining scam.
