Newsroom, Aug 17: In what appears to be a case of misuse of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's so called Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, popularly known as triple talaq bill, the police in Kerala have arrested a youth who had divorced after a prolonged marital dispute.
It is said to be the first case being initiated in Kerala on charge of instant triple talaq after the centre recently brought in a legislation to criminalise the practice which is sporadically found in the Muslim community.
E.K. Usam, 34, was arrested by the sleuths of jurisdictional Mukkom Police station in Kozhikode district on Friday.
"He was arrested following a warrant issued by a court in Thamarassery. Usam’s wife has accused him of divorcing her by pronouncing 'talaq' thrice on August 1," the police officer said, requesting anonymity.
It is learnt that the woman had initially approached the local police to lodge a complaint against husband. However, the cops refused to initiate action after realising that it was not an instant divorce as the couple had decided to part ways a few years ago.
Subsequently, she approached a local court which issued arrest warrant. The woman also alleged that Usam was planning to marry another woman and go abroad.
The accused was produced before the local court at Thamarasserry and he obtained bail from the court.
Usam has now been charged under Sections 3 (any pronouncement of talaq by a Muslim husband upon his wife, by words, either spoken or written or in electronic form or in any other manner whatsoever, shall be void and illegal ) and 4 (any Muslim husband who pronounces talaq referred to in Section 3 upon his wife shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine) of the Act.
Advocate P C Najeeb, who represented the accused, said that triple talaq law was misused by the complainant against her husband.
“They got married in May 2011. But serious differences were there and the woman even filed a domestic violence petition against her husband in 2014. The couple had decided to part ways long ago. Now the woman is trying to take revenge against the Usam by misusing the law,” he said.
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