Odisha Congress Leader Files Dowry Harassment Case Against Husband

Kendrapada: Doctor-turned-politician Debasmita Sharma has accused her physician husband and five other members of her in-law’s family of dowry torture.

In her complaint lodged with Aul police, Debasmita (28), who unsuccessfully contested from Aul Assembly seat as the Congress candidate earlier this year, alleged that she was frequently beaten up and humiliated by her husband, Dr Rahul Pratap Ray, of Cuttack for failing to meet his demand for more dowry.

The torture allegedly began a few days after the marriage was solemnised on December 14, 2022.

She claimed her husband demanded Rs 50 lakh to start a private clinic at Cuttack. When she and her father expressed their inability to arrange the amount, her husband and in-laws started to torture her. Debasmita also alleged that her husband tried to smother her with a pillow in October 2023 while she was asleep with the intention to kill her.

Debasmita is the daughter of Aul’s former MLA Debendra Sharma. Her grandfather Dr Dibakar Sharma was also an MLA from Aul. She used to work as a physician in the community health centre (CHC) at Rajkanika before resigning in March this year to contest the Assembly election.

On the basis of the complaint, police have registered a case under Sections 109, 85, 125 and 115 of the BNS and Section 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act. “We are investing the matter,” said IIC of Aul police station Sabyasachi Satapathy.

Rahul has denied the allegations. “She went back to stay with her parents six months after the marriage. There is no question of harassing her. All the allegations against me are baseless,” he said.