Darbhanga/ Patna: A woman and her husband have been arrested in Bihar’s Darbhanga district after it emerged that she allegedly married a minor girl, sparking shock and widespread attention in the area.
The woman, identified as Kriti Devi, a mother of three, is accused of marrying the girl from Patahi village after developing a close relationship over phone conversations. According to police, Kriti, her husband Krishna Manjhi, and the minor were found together in an objectionable condition inside a room.
Kriti and Krishna reportedly married 11 years ago, with Krishna working as a labourer in Rajasthan. Krishna has told police that despite his objections, his wife continued talking to the minor girl over the phone and often warned him, “I will leave you, but not my girlfriend.”
The situation escalated when the minor girl went missing on April 6. Her family filed a kidnapping complaint at Baheri police station. Media reports suggest that during this period, Kriti allegedly married the minor and took her to Rajasthan. Krishna reportedly assaulted his wife on learning about the marriage but failed to persuade her to end the relationship.
Police eventually traced the trio and arrested them on Saturday. Following their appearance in court, Kriti and Krishna were sent to judicial custody, while the minor girl was returned to her family after medical examination.
The girl’s mother claimed she had trusted Kriti, who often referred to her daughter as her “sister-in-law”, and said she was shocked when the relationship came to light.
The case has raised legal concerns, as marrying a minor is prohibited under Indian law. Authorities indicated that further action may be taken under the Child Marriage Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Lawyer Anil Kumar Singh said that while two individuals can live together after reaching adulthood, marrying a minor is illegal and punishable under the Child Marriage Act and the POCSO Act.
