The Hindu : National : Row over Sanjay’s marriage registration process

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Friday, Feb 15, 2008
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National

Row over Sanjay’s marriage registration process

Special Correspondent

Documents supporting Manyata’s domicile certificate found to be fabricated

PANAJI: The recently filed declaration of marriage by actor Sanjay Dutt and his long-time girlfriend Dilnasheen Amir Ahmad Sheikh alias Manyata before the Sub-Registrar in Salcete in south Goa has run into rough weather with the documents supporting Manyata’s domicile certificate (RC) found to be fabricated.

Following an investigation ordered by south Goa Collector G.P. Naik to find out how an RC was issued within 24 hours of application without proper verification procedure, the talathi from Salcete, Prashant Kuncoliekar, was placed under suspension on Thursday.

For registering a marriage in Goa, according to the provisions of Portuguese Civil Code,still prevalent in this erstwhile Portuguese colony, one of the spouses has to be residing in the State.

According to sources in the south Goa Collectorate, the manner in which Manyata obtained her RC based on which the marriage was registered last week invited a probe by the Collector. The talathi was served a memo by the Mamlatdar of Salcete Paresh Phaldesai earlier in the week and a detailed inquiry was initiated.

Manyata had attached an RC issued by the Salcete Mamlatdar to the marriage declaration form which claimed that she was a resident of Aquem-Alto, Margao, for the last six months.

What raised suspicion was that while the application in her name was made on February 6, the RC was issued the very next day.

The talathi apparently issued a certificate after obtaining an affidavit from a resident of Aquem-Margao in south Goa that Manyata was resident of his household for the last six months.

Sanjay and Manyata, who arrived in Goa early this month and were staying at a five-star resort in south Goa, filed the declaration of marriage before Salcete Sub-registrar Chandrakant Pissurlekar on February 7 — the same day the residence certificate was issued to the bride.

According to legal experts, at present what the couple has done is only filing a declaration of marriage. The marriage can be registered only after 15 days or a lapse of two Sundays. As the RC is found to be fabricated, the Sub-registrar would now have to conduct an inquiry ahead of registering the marriage.

The couple has to re-appear before the Sub-registrar within a fortnight to complete the registration of marriage as per the relevant provisions of the Portuguese law.

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