Temple denies marriage took place; bail granted to accused in child marriage

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: After a temple in which a child marriage allegedly took place denied that any such wedding took place on its premises, the High Court granted bail to five women and a man accused of conducting it. Lakshmamma, Lalitha Kumari, Kalavathi, Kamalamma, Savithramma and Baddi Eranna are the accused in the case.

All are residents of Tumakuru. They are accused under Sections 9 and 10 of the Child Marriage Restrain Act and the case is pending before the Additional Civil Judge, Madhugiri, Tumakuru district. They approached the HC for bail after it was denied in the lower court. Kumar, a relative of Nagarathnamma filed the complaint, alleging that the latter was only 17 years old and her marriage was conducted by the accused on November 20, 2016.

The groom, who was the main accused in the case, is now dead. The marriage was allegedly solemnized in the Lakshminarasimhaswamy temple in Tumakuru. The High Court noted that the objection statement filed by the investigating police in the Sessions Court, said, “It’s specifically asserted that the management of Jakkenahalli village Lakshminarasimhaswamy temple has denied the performance of any such marriage between accused No.1 and Nagarathnamma.

Considering these aspects, it is evident that at this juncture there is absolutely no material to substantiate the contention that the accused No.1 had married with Nagarathnamma.” The HC further noted that the investigating officer “has not even bothered to ascertain the date of birth of Nagarathnamma.” Moreover, the main accused, the bridegroom, is dead.

“It is also submitted now that the accused No.1 has already died and death extract is also produced at Annexure-E,” the court said in its judgment. Justice Rajendra Badamikar in his judgement said that “no material is forthcoming to show that the present petitioners have instigated or performed the marriage as alleged in the private complaint by the complainant in Lakshminarasimhaswamy temple.”

Remarking on the tardy investigation, the HC said, “These facts and circumstances clearly establ i s h that there is no attempt to investigate the matter, and in a mechanical way, the matter was kept pending without making any effort to proceed with further investigation.” All the accused were directed to be released on bail after they executed a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1 lakh each