The Mohanty family completely shunned the media following the re-arrest of Bitti Mohanty early on Saturday from Kerala, more than six years after he jumped parole.

According to family sources, Bitti's father former DGP, BB Mohanty (61), who now lives in Cuttack, has become "quiet and reticent". "He does not want to be exposed to people and refrains from visiting relatives and attending family functions to avoid gossip about his son," said a family friend.

Despite a spotless career otherwise, Mohanty senior was convicted for "aiding and abetting an absconding state prisoner" (Bitti) and even had to spend a day in a Rajasthan jail.

The 1972 batch IPS officer was even in the running for the top job in Odisha police till his son was accused and convicted of raping a German girl in 2006.

Mohanty has all along maintained that he was not aware of Bitti's whereabouts. Other family members, however, feel Bitti was not accorded a fair trial. "He was not given a lawyer of his choice and the case was disposed of in just seven days by the fast-track court. But Bitti's appeal against the verdict in Rajasthan HC was kept pending for eight months, while the girl went back to her country," said the family friend.