Mumbai: 22-year-old woman 'marries' minor, arrested on sexual assault charges
A 22-year-old woman was arrested early this month in Mumbai on charges of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor boy, who she said was her 'husband'. The girl also has a five-month-old daughter with the 17-year-old and claimed that they were married last November and were happy. She has now approached the Mumbai sessions court for bail, an order of which is expected today.
Their five-month-old daughter staying with the woman
Earlier, the court had allowed her daughter to stay with her in Byculla jail, where she's currently lodged. The woman was arrested and charged under stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after the boy's mother filed a complaint against her. In her complaint, the mother alleged that the woman had 'enticed' her son and has been blackmailing him through suicide threats.
Woman, her family barged into boy's house announcing marriage
The FIR, which was lodged last December, further reads that on November 23 last year, the woman, accompanied by her parents and brother, barged into the boy's house unannounced, and claimed to have married him. When the boy's parents tried to oppose her, the woman abused them and threatened of harming herself. When she left around 11PM, the son also left and never returned.
Arrestee two-time divorcee, mother had asked boy to end relationship
The arrestee is a two-time divorcee and has been in contact with the minor for 2 years. The concerned mother tried to stop her boy from going ahead with the relationship, but he informed her that she would commit suicide if he stopped meeting her.
Girl's blackmailing tactics created tremendous pressure on boy, claims mother
In fact, she had attempted to take her life twice already, once by pouring kerosene on herself and another time by drinking a disinfectant. This created tremendous mental stress on the minor, who couldn't pass his Class X exam, the FIR read. The woman's complaint against her 'daughter-in-law' didn't stop, as she said ever since their relationship began, her son's behavior began to change.
My 'husband' is not 17-year-old, says arrestee in her plea
The boy in question is the youngest one among the siblings. He has two elder sisters, one aged 20 years and another 18. However, he cannot be 17-year-old contests the 'wife' in her bail plea submitted through advocate Khaled Azmi, pointing out to an anomaly in the age-gap between the middle child and the boy. In her plea, she added the relationship was consensual.
Woman also charged under various IPC sections, Child Marriage Act
Apart from POCSO Act, the woman has also been charged under IPC sections pertaining to kidnapping and criminal intimidation as well as Child Marriage Act, which defines 'child' as a male who's under 21 years and a female who is yet to reach 18 years.
