Groom held for marrying minor girl

A 31-year-old silver merchant was today arrested here for allegedly marrying a minor girl,police said.

Police also arrested Rajasekaran, the father of the 16-year-old-girl, for giving his consent to the illegal marriage.

Lavakumar of Sevapet had divorced his first wife and married the girl, a class X student, at a temple yesterday with the consent of her father, police said.

On a tip-off from temple authorities to local Thasildhar, police today arrested Lavakumar and Rajasekaran under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.

The two were produced before a court which remanded them to judicial custody, police added.