31/07/2025
A case was registered against 40-year-old Srinivas Goud on Wednesday, July 29, in Telangana’s Nandigama for marrying an 8th-class girl.
A 13-year-old girl from Telangana’s Ranga Reddy district was rescued from a child marriage after her school teacher alerted the authorities. The Class 8 student had reportedly been married off on May 28 to a 40-year-old man- identified as Srinivas Goud- from Kandiwada.
The incident came to light after the girl confided in her teacher, who then informed tahsildar Rajeshwar and the police, prompting immediate intervention by the police and District Child Protection Services.“The girl lives with her mother and brother. The mother told the house owner where they lived on rent that she wanted to marry off her daughter. A mediator brought the alliance of the 40-year-old man and the ‘marriage’ happened in May," police said, as per News Channel.
Srinivas Goud, the girl’s mother, the mediator, a priest who officiated the illegal ceremony and a woman who allegedly facilitated the arrangement have been arrested and charged under the Prevention of Child Marriage Act, the police said.
District Child Protection Officer Prawin Kumar said, “They were cohabitating for about two months. If the girl was forced into a sexual relationship, a case under POCSO will be filed against the man, Srinivas Goud."
The girl has been shifted to a Sakhi Centre, a government-supported facility for women and children in distress, where she is receiving counselling and protection. Sexual relations with a minor are punishable under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
