CHENNAI: A 31-year-old man, who forced a minor girl to marry and live with him was sentenced to 10-years rigorous imprisonment by a Mahila Court on Monday.
According to the prosecution, L Anbu (31), a resident of Virugampakkam, had married the 16-year-old girl in 2009 in a church in Little Mount without the knowledge of her family. The girl had just written the Class X board examination and was awaiting the results when she went missing.
After eight months, the family members and police found that Anbu had forced the girl to marry him and was living with her in Pazhavanthangal. Anbu was already married to another woman whom he had deserted.
The girl worked at a private company from where a police team rescued her.
Since marrying and having sex with a minor is an offence, police registered case against Anbu under IPC section 366A (procuration of minor girl), 376 (rape) and 495 (concealment of former marriage by a person with whom subsequent marriage is contracted).