A 23-YEAR-OLD girl who told the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court that she did not want to live with her parents because they were forcing her to marry has been allowed to return to Indore under police protection. The court directed Tiroda Police in Bhandara to send two constables with her till she reaches Indore, after she expressed fear for her life and liberty from her family.

 

The woman, Nikita Arun Sonewane, was produced before the Court on October 6 following an earlier order. Her mother, Ashwini Sonewane, had filed a habeas corpus petition. She claimed that Nikita had gone missing in April 2023 while preparing for the NEET examination in Nanded. The mother alleged that Nikita was illegally detained by Kaushik Shankar Chaudhari. However, Nikita told the Court that she had been living on her own since 2023. She said she initially stayed in Bengaluru for a year and was currently living in Indore. She said she was earning her livelihood by giving home tuition. Nikita also clearly told the Court that she did not want to stay with her parents. She said they were insisting and forcing her to get married.

 

The Bench comprising Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Justice Raj D Wakode noted that Nikita had attained majority. The Court said her wishes and welfare had to be considered on the basis of her statement. Nikita also expressed apprehension that her life and liberty could be in danger from her mother or people associated with her. Taking note of this, the Court directed the Tiroda Police Inspector to provide her protection during her journey to Indore. Two police constables will accompany her until she reaches Indore. The Court held that illegal detention was not established as Nikita was a major and had clearly expressed her wish to live independently. Adv A M Chandekar represented the petitioner while APP Shamsi Haider for the State.