A bizarre and distressing incident has come to light in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur district, where a 55-year-old man reportedly married a woman who was initially engaged to his own 17-year-old son. The shocking development, which occurred recently in Bansnagali village, has left the man's family "distraught and in turmoil," according to officials on Friday.
Shakeel, a father of six and grandfather of three, had reportedly been in frequent communication with 22-year-old Ayesha from a nearby village since their daughter's wedding last month, as stated by his wife, Shabana. While Shakeel initially claimed he was arranging Ayesha's marriage with his son, Aman, suspicion grew within the family. Aman himself became wary after noticing frequent calls between his father and Ayesha, and upon checking his father's phone, he reportedly found "objectionable content" involving the two, leading him to refuse the marriage.
Despite initial family resistance due to financial constraints and Aman's young age, Shabana alleged that Shakeel aggressively forced the match. The situation escalated when Shakeel left for Delhi last week on the pretext of work, only to call his wife and other family members from the capital to announce that he had married Ayesha. Shabana expressed profound distress, stating, "The woman who was supposed to be my daughter-in-law has now become my husband's wife," lamenting the fact that she now shares her home with Ayesha.
As of now, no formal complaint has been filed with the police regarding the incident. Bhota Station House Officer Amar Singh Rathore confirmed awareness of the situation, stating on Friday, "If any aggrieved party comes forward, action will be taken as per the law." The peculiar nature of the marriage has drawn considerable attention in the local community.