Minor girl married off to businessman for Rs 12 lakh property in Tamil Nadu

TNN

Chennai, Oct 31, 2014: A minor girl from Salem was allegedly sold to a businessman for Rs 12 lakh. The Class X student of a government-aided school in Suramangalam was then married to the divorcee from Cuddalore on October 12. The incident came to light when the girl’s mother complained to the Childline, seeking custody of her minor daughter. The marriage was solemnized in the presence of local leaders and families of both sides in Pennadam in Cuddalore district. 

 

The girl’s mother has now filed a habeas corpus plea in the Madras high court for the girl to be produced in court. The 14-year-old is the eldest daughter of Begum* and Sathik Basha. Babu, the son of a local politician, befriended the girl’s advocate mother while frequenting her house to discuss a civil suit. He exerted pressure on her parents to get her married to him by threatening to commit suicide. 

 

"He offered a property worth Rs 12 lakh and we could not withstand the pressure and agreed to the proposal," said Begum. The girl’s parents then found that Babu had a two-year-old son from an earlier marriage. 

 

On a complaint from Begum demanding to get back her daughter, the Cuddalore district social welfare office swung into action on Saturday. When the officials visited Babu’s residence, they were informed that there was nothing to worry. 

 

"Even the girl said that it was her parents who sold her to Babu. She did not show any sign of distress. As we had no proof to suggest she was a minor, we left," Cuddalore district social welfare officer R Bhuvaneswari told TOI. 

 

Begum sent the girl’s birth certificate to officials, who went back to Babu’s house on Thursday night and rescued her with the help of police. "She will be produced before the child welfare committee shortly," Bhuvaneswari said. 

(*Name changed)