Woman married 17-year-old boy – arrested for sexual assault
A 22-year-old mother was recently arrested. She has been held under stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Posco) Act. There are charges against her of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old. It has been claimed that the woman married 17-year-old boy last year and their relationship was consensual.
The woman has a 5-month-old daughter from the relationship. She has moved for bail. The order is expected on Friday. The court had earlier allowed her to keep her daughter with her in Byculla jail. The police complaint was filed the boy’s mother. She alleged that the woman had ‘enticed’ her son.
The FIR of this case was registered last December. The woman married 17-year-old-boy and was arrested only earlier this month. In addition to charges under the Posco Act, the woman has been booked under sections of the IPC for kidnapping and criminal intimidation as well as the Child Marriage Act. The “marriage” took place on November 8, 2017. The definition of a “child” under the Child Marriage Act means a male who is under 21 years of age and a female who has not yet turned 18.
In her December 2017 police statement. the mother said on November 23, at 10 pm, the woman had come to her residence accompanied her parents and brother. She said that the woman claimed that she had married her son and would now reside in the house.
The mother said that when she and her husband opposed it, the woman abused them and threatened to harm herself. After the woman left at 11 pm, the boy left home and refused to return. She claimed that the woman was twice married and divorced.
The woman married 17-year-old boy but is still sure that the boy cannot be only 17. What do you think about this case? Is the woman guilty?
