To Save Women Who Marry Outside Their Religion, Devendra Fadnavis' Advice To Cops

Police in Maharashtra will be asked to frame a standard operating procedure (SOP) to handle cases where women are duped into marriage outside religion by presenting a fake identity, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday.

He was speaking in the state legislative assembly during a discussion on 'Hindu girls being lured by anti-social elements' in Aurangabad district, as alleged by some legislators.

All police stations will be sensitized on this issue and if appropriate action is not taken, the concerned officials will face action, said Mr Fadnavis, who handles the home portfolio.

He will ask the state director general of police (DGP) to frame an SOP for dealing with such cases, Fadnavis added.

If an adult woman marries outside religion, the law cannot do anything unless she has been duped by the man by using a different identity, he said.

The cases of women being "drugged" and lured into marriage by using a fake identity -- as claimed by a legislator -- will be probed, and the rescued women will be provided psychological treatment, Mr Fadnavis added.