Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Kolkata Child Marriage Case Sees Father Among Three Arrested
Police in Kolkata found that a girl under 18 had allegedly been married.
The girl had left her home and was living with a young man and his mother.
Police said the young man married her and his mother accepted her as a daughter-in-law despite knowing her age.
The girl’s family allegedly hid the marriage while receiving government education assistance.
The girl did not want to return home for a verification process.
Her father later told an NGO that she had been married.
The NGO informed police, who rescued the girl.
Police arrested the father, the alleged husband and the mother-in-law.
Kolkata Police arrested a minor girl’s father, alleged husband and mother-in-law after uncovering a child marriage case.
Police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, involving alleged marriage, kidnapping and sexual assault.
The family allegedly concealed the marriage while continuing to receive payments under the Kanyaratna Education Grant Scheme.
An NGO alerted Haridevpur police after the father disclosed the marriage when the girl refused to return home for benefit verification.
Police rescued the minor and arranged for her to stay in a safe place.
- Who
- Kolkata Police arrested the minor’s father, alleged husband and mother-in-law; the minor was rescued.
- What
- Police uncovered an alleged child marriage and registered a case involving alleged kidnapping and sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
- When
- The girl reportedly left home about one-and-a-half months before the arrests; the three arrests were made on Sunday, according to police.
- Where
- The girl was from Nodakhali in South 24 Parganas, and was allegedly living at her in-laws’ home in Haridevpur, Kolkata.
- Why
- Police said the family allegedly concealed the marriage to continue receiving assistance under the Kanyaratna Education Grant Scheme; an NGO later alerted police.
- Arrests
- The girl’s father, alleged husband and mother-in-law were arrested.
- Applicable law
- Police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
- Government scheme
- The Kanyaratna Education Grant Scheme supports the education of unmarried girls and discourages child marriage.
- Police station
- Officers from Haridevpur police station handled the case.
- Rescue
- Police rescued the minor from her alleged in-laws’ home.
- Current arrangement
- The minor was placed in a safe location.