Mumbai: Cops let off men, who threatened interfaith couple, with a warning

Representation pic

A day after being harassed by two men and a woman for choosing to marry a Muslim man, the Khar resident recorded her statement with the police on Wednesday. The cops had also called the trio, but only the men came and claimed they visited her home to enquire about her father's health. They denied being with a third visitor. They were let off with a warning. Activist Teesta Setalvad has now offered legal help to the woman.

While recording her statement, the Khar resident told the police that she is an adult and that no one has the right to object to her personal decision. The complainant had on Tuesday told mid-day that two men and a woman had come to her Khar West home and tried to brainwash her against marrying her fiance. But they were successful in scaring the parents, especially the father, who is now against their wedding.

The two accused leave the Khar police station after recording their statement on Wednesday

Police had also called her father to the police station to record his statement. Still scared, he told the police that he had no complaint against the men. Police sources said the two men and the family belong to the same community. The men told the police that they had come to meet her father as they had learnt that he was ill.

When the police asked about the woman and her identity, both categorically denied being accompanied by any woman. Their statements were recorded and they were warned against interfering with the lives of the woman or her family, an officer said. No FIR was registered.

"The matter is settled. A strict warning has been given to the accused and they have been advised not to interfere in the woman's life. At the same time, we have assured the woman any help she may need. We have shared with her the contact number of the duty officer," said Vasant Pingle, assistant commissioner of police, Bandra division.

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Meanwhile, civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad has offered legal help to the woman, if required, after reading about her plight in mid-day.

"It is most disturbing and shocking that such incidents are being allowed to take place through an organised nexus between the registry and gangs of people associated with organisations opposed to freedom of choice," Setalvad said, while speaking with mid-day.

The woman's father on Wednesday told the police that he has no complaint against the men who had come to his house the day before. Representation pic

"Our organisations, Citizens for Justice and Peace, Mumbai, and Dhanak, have been in consistent correspondence with the Maharashtra chief secretary since January 11, 2021, urging the govt to ‘comply with and issue directions for the implementation of the order of the Allahabad High Court...which ruled that the notice publication of intended interfaith marriage is not mandatory under the Special Marriage Act. The Allahabad HC held that this would be an invasion of a couple's privacy and would cause unnecessary social pressure/interference in their free choice," she added.

"Under the law set by the Supreme Court, once a high court, a Constitutional court, reads down a section as unconstitutional, other states are bound to follow. We will pursue this issue with the government and in court," said Setalvad.