Maulana booked for marrying off minor released

A 31-year-old maulana, who was arrested in 2013 and booked under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSOA), and under the IPC for rape, for allegedly officiating the marriage of a minor girl with a youth, has been discharged from the case by the Sewree Sessions Court. The court was of the view that he had no role in the offence, apart from acting as a priest.

In 2013, the accused Mohammed Imran Shaikh decided to marry off a minor, and then got into a sexual relationship with the girl. When the fact was unearthed, the victim's parents approached Mahim police station and registered a case against the accused. A case was also registered against the maulana. An Mahim police station officer said, "The maulana was aware that the girl was a minor, but went ahead and officiated the nuptials. The police was successful in nabbing the absconding accused."

The court while passing its orders, however, held, "The man only acted as the priest in the marriage. It seems he has not played any role so as to attract the provisions of these stringent acts."