Bhubaneswar: Actor-turned-politician Anubhav Mohanty failed to appear before the court in Cuttack on Friday in connection with a domestic violence case.
The JMFC court had asked Anubhav and two others – Sujit Dallei and Khagendra Prasad Sahu – to appear before it while acting on a complaint filed by his former wife Varsha Priyadarshini.
According to sources, Anubhav cited personal reason for being unable to attend the hearing. He also sought more time to appear before the court through his lawyer.
The court has granted time till Monday and asked Anubhav and his aides to appear on that day.
The JFMC court had earlier dismissed his discharge petition and directed for framing charges against him in the domestic violence case.
In December 2020, Varsha had lodged a complaint with Purighat police station, alleging that Anubhav and two of his friends had locked her in a room in his house at Nandi Sahi in Cuttack on the night December 18 even as the estranged couple were locked in a divorce battle with the actress seeking restitution of conjugal rights.
A police team had then reached the house of the parliamentarian and rescued her.
On the basis of her complaint, a case was also registered under Sections 498A, 341, and 506 of the IPC against Anubhav and two of his associates.
In December 2023, Kendrapada MP scored a big victory when the Orissa High Court granted him divorce from his actor wife, invalidating the order in which the Family Court, Cuttack, had rejected his petition. He received his decree of divorce in February this year after 10 ten years of marriage.
The long and bitter legal battle, which began with Anubhav moving a Delhi court for divorce in July 2020 citing non-consummation of his marriage with the actress, now seems far from over.
While Anubhav has since then switched sides from BJD to BJP and can be seen campaigning extensively for the saffron party, Varsha is contesting the upcoming elections from Barchana on BJD ticket.
Anubhav had also hoped to earn a ticket from Barabati-Cuttack but the party chose to field state unit vice president Dr Purna Chandra Mahapatra.
