The Chemmangad Police on Wednesday arrested the relatives of the UAE national who was accused of marrying a minor girl residing in an orphanage and later divorcing her.
A team led by Town Circle Inspector K. Ashraf arrested Sulaika (42), the mother of the UAE national, C. Muneer (38), her second husband and Abu Shahabas (27), cousin of the UAE national. The accused were booked for charges under section 375 of IPC, Prohibition of Domestic Violence Act, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act-2006, the Juvenile Justice Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
Earlier in the day, the Malappuram police took the testimony of the young woman and verified her certificates to ascertain her age.
Ten persons were later listed as accused, which includes the UAE citizen, his mother and the orphanage officials.
The case was then transferred to Chemmangad police.
The probe will centre on the intention of the UAE national in marrying her and her accusation that the orphanage had forced her into the marriage for monetary benefits.
The police will also try to bring the UAE national to Kozhikode. The Kerala Women’s Commission had on Tuesday urged the Chief Minister to take steps to bring him back.
The police also visited the orphanage, Kadavu Resort, Ramanattukara, Mukhadhar and Sulaikha’s residence to collect evidence. The girl had alleged that she was sexually abused at these locations after the marriage. The visit of the UAE national was also not reported before the City Police Commissioner, which is a basic requirement under the Foreigners Act. The Chairman of the Board of Control of Orphanages and Other Charitable Homes P.C. Ibrahim who visited the orphanage said that the marriage was in clear violation of the Orphanages and Other Charitable Homes (Supervision And Control) Act, 1960. A show cause notice was issued to the authorities to which a reply has to be submitted within 7 days.
As per the clause 22 of the Orphanages Act, no female inmate of a home shall be discharged or given in marriage or entrusted to the care of any other person unless such female has made a declaration before the Board or an officer specified by it in this behalf that she consents to such discharge, marriage or entrustment, as the case may be, and, if the inmate to be given in marriage is a minor, unless the Board or officer, as the case may be, has, after recording the reasons in writing, given its or his approval thereto’.
