Bolangir: A day after a video message surfaced on social media showing Bolangir royal family member Adrija Manjari Singh accusing the family of domestic violence, her husband Arkesh Narayan Singh Deo Tuesday refuted the allegations.
Arkesh, in a video statement said, “Adrija filed a domestic violence case against me about six to eight months ago. I left that house after the case was filed. Her sister lives in that house for last two years. Her father lives there for 15-20 days every month. Based on police recommendation, I have tried to set up CCTV cameras there for their and my security. However, they cut off the cables for the cameras. I have sent the footage to the police. I rarely visit that house once or twice a month to bring clothes.”
“About three to four days back, her father put forward some demands before us which was beyond our capability to fulfil. I have told them that the matter is subjudice, however, they continue to build pressure on us. They are linked to some land mafia. There is a man named Prashant Mallick from Saharanpur. Most importantly, when I asked him why he is bringing in tens of anti-socials from Saharanpur to my house, he said that he would bring in hundreds of them. I have video evidence of that,” he added.
In another statement, Arkesh informed that when he was visiting the said house three to four days back in police presence, Adrija’s father, supported by anti-social elements, put up a resistance following which Adrija “politicised” the issue.
A day before, a video surfaced on social media where Adrija accused her husband Arkesh of domestic violence and her father-in-law of demanding money.
“We were living in Dehradun after Arkesh lost his election. Later in 2022 January, when my mother was diagnosed with cancer, they (Arkesh’s family) wanted me to campaign in Bolangir for panchayat and municipality polls scheduled in February and March that year. I came to Bolangir and worked for the party and tried to fulfill my responsibilities as a wife and daughter-in-law. Later I was suddenly informed that Arkesh Narayan Singh Deo wants to divorce me. My father-in-law Ananga Udaya Singh Deo, mother-in-law Bijayalaxmi Devi, brother-in-law Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo and Meghna Rana had been torturing me mentally for last five years since my wedding,’ Adrija said.
“When Arkesh wanted a divorce, his family members used to send their staff to threaten and abuse me. On one occasion I was physically assaulted by their staff. Even though Arkesh was present there, he did not utter a word. During 2019 elections, my father-in-law demanded money from me. xxxx The mental torture was going on since long, but now it is beyond what I can put up with. I feel they have managed the Uttarakhand and Dehradun police to not take action on my reports. Neither the Dehradun police nor Bolangir police have cooperated with me,” she further added.
As per Dehradun’s local media reports, Adrija is the granddaughter of former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh. Arkesh, meanwhile, is the son of Bolangir royal family’s Anang Uday Singh Deo. The royal duo got married in November 2017.
PNN