“Our Community Allows Marriage at 16,” Claims Father Before Officials Halt Child Wedding in Indore
Indore (Madhya Pradesh), April 19, 2026 — In a bizarre turn of events ahead of the Akshaya Tritiya festival, authorities in Indore intervened to stop two separate child marriages where, shockingly, the grooms in both instances were just 13 years old.
In one particularly unusual case, the bride was legally an adult at 18 years old, but her intended husband was still a minor, prompting immediate action from the Women and Child Development Department.
The Ahilya Paltan Case: Groom Was 13, Bride Was 17.5
The first incident occurred in the Ahilya Paltan area of the city. Acting on a tip-off, a special flying squad of the Women and Child Development Department reached a house where preparations for the wedding were in full swing. The mandap was decorated, the haldi ceremony was underway, and women were singing traditional songs.
When officials halted the proceedings, the bride’s father initially argued with the team, claiming that their community allowed girls to marry at the age of 16. However, when asked to produce government rules supporting his claim, he had no answer.
Upon checking documents, officials discovered that the bride was still six months shy of turning 18. Even more surprisingly, the groom’s documents revealed he was only 13 years old.
The team, including Project Officer Chitra Yadav and Flying Squad In-charge Mahendra Pathak, counseled both families about the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, explaining the severe legal consequences and the negative impacts of underage marriage. After a lengthy discussion, the families agreed to call off the wedding.
Because invitations had already been sent and preparations made, the administration allowed the family to host the guests for the planned feast on Akshaya Tritiya, on the strict condition that no wedding rituals would take place.
The Sanjay Nagar Case: 18-Year-Old Bride, 13-Year-Old Groom
The second incident was reported from the Sanjay Nagar area under the Rau police station limits. Preparations for a wedding scheduled for April 19 were happening secretly. Following a complaint on the Child Helpline, a team reached the location under the direction of SDM Gopal Verma.
Initially, the family denied that a wedding was taking place. However, the ongoing preparations told a different story. Document verification revealed another astonishing age gap—while the bride had completed 18 years of age and was legally an adult, the groom was, once again, only 13 years old.
Following strict warnings about the legal repercussions under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, the families submitted affidavits promising not to marry the children until they reached the legal age.
To prevent future attempts, authorities have mandated that until the 13-year-old groom becomes an adult, he must register his attendance daily at the local Anganwadi center. Officials also assured the families that once the children reach legal age, their marriage can be conducted under the government’s Kanyadaan Yojana, which will help ease their financial burden.
