This Article is From Jun 03, 2010

Pune youth held for marrying minor girls

Pune: A 24-year old man has been arrested from a posh locality in Aundh, Pune and booked for marrying two minors.

The move followed a complaint registered by his first wife's mother at the Chatushrungi police station  on Tuesday.

Harshal Javalekar, the arrested man, runs a travel and car rental company and got married for the second time last month.

Javalekar and three members of his family were arrested after the mother of his first bride, Preeti (name changed to protect identity), blew the whistle on his alliances.

While Javalekar's brother Tushar , father Dhananjay , and mother Shubhangi  were taken into custody, the police were yet to arrest Preeti's uncle Ramesh Tamake .

Preeti was only 13 when Javalekar married her.

Investigation officer PSI Manisha Dhamne Patil said, "The girl, a resident of Udgir, was staying with her aunt and uncle in Pune. Her mother had given them the custody of the girl after her father went missing eight years ago."

The police said Preeti used to be tortured by Tamake, who then arranged her marriage with Javalekar without consulting her mother.

According to the complainant, Javalekar's family used to starve the girl and beat her. It was also alleged that Javalekar threatened Preeti, saying he would abandon her after the second marriage.

The complaint stated that Preeti was pregnant and Javalekar's family tried to force her to abort.

PSI Patil said, "Harshal's second bride is 14 years old. The arrested four have been sent to police custody till June 5."
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