Sandesh (24) of Honnavara in Uttara Kannada district stated in his habeas corpus petition that he and Divya of Manipal, studying in a Shimoga college previously, fell in love and married at a temple in Hosanagar in October 2006. They had decided to publicise their marriage after her studies and accordingly she left for hometown to complete studies. After completion of her studies, he along with his family approached her father, told of the marriage and sought her custody. A week later, she and her family went missing, he alleged. He had also produced a certificate and photographs of their alleged marriage.
However, Divya, who was present in the court on Monday, denied the marriage saying that Sandesh had threatened her and had stage-managed documents of marriage with ulterior motives. When asked by the Court about her signature on the marriage certificate, she said, she never visited the Marriage Registrar’s office but had signed on the certificate, as she was threatened of dire consequences.
The Court directed all the parties including Divya’s father to be present before it during the hearing on Wednesday.