On Friday, the Bombay High Court directed the Mumbai Police to provide continuous protection to an interfaith couple who feared being forcibly taken away by Gujarat Police. This decision followed individual interviews with both the man and the woman involved.
The woman, who had relocated from Ahmedabad to marry the man, testified in court that she entered the marriage of her own volition, fully aware that he was already married and had three children. She also clarified that she had not stolen any jewelry or cash, contrary to her family’s allegations, which led them to file a missing person report and a theft complaint against her.
The couple’s legal representatives argued that the theft accusation was a retaliatory response after they sought legal protection from the High Court. Both the woman’s parents and brother, along with Gujarat Police officials, were present in the courtroom.
Although the woman declined to return to her parents’ home, she agreed to return her jewelry to them. The court, acknowledging the tense situation between the couple and their families, mandated police protection to safeguard against any potential harm.
Gujarat Police officials assured the court that their visit to Mumbai was solely to record statements and they had no plans to forcibly return the couple to Gujarat. Consequently, the court authorized the recording of these statements via video conferencing.
