Hindu-Muslim couple told to get marriage registered

Family feared their daughter may become a victim of triple talaq

In good news for a Mankhurd-based Muslim man, his Hindu wife on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court of her willingness to continue living with her husband and his family.

This comes after the woman was allegedly kidnapped by her parents, who opposed the ‘inter-caste’ marriage.

The woman, a native of Mangalore, was produced before the division bench of Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice BP Colabawala, who were hearing the habeas corpus petition of her husband Iqbal Chaudhary.

According to Iqbal, he met his wife on Facebook way back in 2011 and after having a love affair for nearly six years, the couple decided to marry in June 2017. His wife left her parent’s house in Mangalore and came down to Mumbai in June last year and within a few days she got converted into Islam. The couple got married as per rituals of the Muslim community.

“After they got married, the wife’s family went to Iqbal’s house and threatened them; later, a group of men too barged into the house and made similar threats. While the couple were spending some time together in Vashi, the wife was kidnapped by some unknown persons, who Iqbal claimed were from her family,” said advocate Hasnen Qazi, who represents Iqbal in the court.

Shocked by his wife’s abduction, Iqbal filed a complaint with the Mankhurd police and even moved the bench of Justice Gavai. He informed the judges through advocate Qazi of his apprehension that his inlaws might have kidnapped his wife as they were against their marriage.

During investigations, ordered by Justice Gavai’s bench, the police traced the girl to her parent’s home in Mangalore and accordingly produced her before the court.

Appearing in the chambers of Justice Gavai, the girl had on an earlier occasion sought time to return to her husband’s house, since her mother was unwell.

On Wednesday, the wife, who is three-months pregnant now, informed the judges that she wants to live and

cohabit with her husband in her matrimonial house. Her family advocate Sanjeev Punalekar urged the judges to direct Iqbal to get their marriage registered. Having heard the contentions and considering the desire of the wife, the judges have now stayed the probe, which was initiated by the Mankhurd police, pursuant to their earlier orders.

The judges asked Iqbal to get the marriage with his wife registered under the relevant provisions of the Special Marriage Act. Her family advocate Punalekar meanwhile said this (registration of marriage) was one of the major prayer of the family as they feared that their daughter may become a victim of triple talaq.

The judges have now posted the matter for February 16, when they are likely to hear arguments for quashing the First Information Report (FIR) registered by Iqbal against his in-laws.