Man who claimed wife pushed him off bridge faces arrest for marrying minor

RAICHUR: A man, who had alleged that he was pushed into the Krishna river from the Gurjapur bridge-cum-barrage while clicking photos, now faces the threat of arrest as the state child rights commission has sought registration of a case under the POCSO Act.

Tathappa, a resident of Shakti Nagar in Raichur, got married to a minor girl, who hails from Vadagera in Yadgir district, on April 10. The girl is said to be 15 years and 8 months old and a case has already been registered under the child marriage prevention Act at the Raichur women’s police station against Tathappa, his mother and the girl’s mother.

Child rights commission member Shashidhar Kosambe has now written to the district police to include charges under the POCSO Act since more than three months have elapsed since the marriage. Police Superintendent Puttamadaiah M also said the POCSO Act will be invoked and the investigation carried out.

District Child Development and Protection Officer Amaresh said, “A case has been registered under the child marriage act and after recording the statement of the minor, provisions of the POCSO Act will also be invoked. If the marriage has been consumated, POCSO Act can be invoked”.

Police Superintendent Puttamadaiah said, “Tathappa’s video at the bridge-cum-barrage had gone viral and we had issued him a notice to register a complaint, but he did not claiming that it was a domestic dispute. A gram panchayat member has given a complaint stating that Tathappa’s wife was born on July 7, 2009, which makes it a child marriage. We have registered a case against Tathappa, his younger brother and mother, and taken up further investigation”.

Shashidhar Kosambe said, “It is now established that Tathappa has got married to a minor. A case has been registered at the women’s police station under the child marriage act. I have spoken to the SP and the Deputy SP to take the case seriously. Since the marriage has been consumated, and hence POCSO Act, and Juvenile Justice Act can be invoked”.