Mumbai: The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court recently granted bail to a man accused of impregnating his 14-year-old fiancee, noting that “poverty is the biggest problem in India”. The court took into account the fact that the accused and the victim were supposed to be married because their families had arranged the union.

The court noted that this was a “genuine” case, touching on the “societal fabric” of the country, where poverty often leads to girls being married off at an early age.

The victim’s father appeared before the court, explaining that due to his wife’s heart condition and his own brain disease, they arranged their daughter’s marriage to secure her future. He expressed concern about their potential untimely deaths, which prompted the decision to repair their marriage, even though she was only 14 years old.

“The parents were determined to see the victim improve in their lifetime.

Unfortunately, his wife recently died of heart disease. They wanted to protect their daughter from the sick eyes of society. Under those compelling circumstances, they decided to marry the applicant and the victim. This can be a real ground and touch the societal fabric of our country. Poverty is the biggest problem of our country,” said Justice SG Mehare.

The HC was hearing a bail plea by a man who was booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act and the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO). The prosecution argued that the applicant and the girl were cousins ​​whose families planned their marriage.

However, they engaged in a sexual relationship before marriage, resulting in the girl’s pregnancy. She was taken to a local civic hospital in Aurangabad and a case was registered since she was a minor.

However, in view of the compelling circumstances, the HC granted the applicant bail with a surety of Rs 50,000. “Even if the offense is registered, the complainant is ready to marry the victim after attaining majority. These compelling circumstances must be taken into account. Therefore, the applicant can be released on bail,” Justice Mehare added.