Dowry case against Arjun Singh is misuse of law: Renuka Chowdhury

New Delhi, July 31: Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury today strongly defended Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, saying a dowry harassment case against the latter was 'misuse' of the anti-dowry law. ''I definitely object to the misue of the Act like this,'' Ms Chowdhury told reporters when asked for her reaction about FIR being registered against Mr Singh and five of his family members by Uttar Pradesh police under the Anti-Dowry Act on a complaint by Madhvendra Singh, father of Priyanka Singh whom his grandson Abhimanyu had married.

She said such incidents would harm the interests of the people genuinely seeking protection under the anti-dowry law.

Though asserting that the law would take its own course in the case, Ms Chowdhury, however, said the Act was made to benefit the people who are harassed for dowry. ''Such misuse of the law would create problems for those women,'' she added.

She pointed out that the Human Resource Development Minister has already clarified that he was not even present at the wedding.

The Uttar Pradesh police has registered an FIR against Mr Singh, his wife Beena Singh, son Abhimanyu Singh, grandson Abhijeet Singh and three others on the direction of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chandausi. Madhvendra Singh has alleged that Priyanka's in-laws had been demanding a Mercedes car and a flat in Noida from him and his daughter was being tortured when their demand was not met.

Mr Singh had yesterday distanced himself from the case asserting that he had nothing to do with the allegation of harassment of his grandson's wife for dowry.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Government has indicated that it would order a CBI inquiry into the allegations against the Union Minister and his family members.

UNI