BEIJING (SCMP): A father of six from northern India has eloped with the fiancee of his teenage son and taken off with the family’s gold and cash.
Shakeel, 55, from Uttar Pradesh, is also a grandfather of three.
According to the local media outlet NDTV, he had arranged for his 15-year-old son Aman to marry Ayesha, a young woman from a nearby village.
His family initially opposed the engagement for financial reasons, but Shakeel pushed ahead with the plan.
The 22-year-old Ayesha was described as gentle and sweet, and Shakeel often visited her home under the pretence of arranging his son’s wedding.
Shakeel’s wife grew suspicious of an affair between her husband and Ayesha, claiming she twice caught them acting intimately.
She repeatedly voiced her concerns but said Shakeel responded with verbal abuse and even physical violence.
The wife also found frequent video calls and intimate photos of the pair on Shakeel’s phone.
With help from her son Aman, she gathered evidence confirming the affair. Shocked by the betrayal, Aman called off the engagement.
In June, Shakeel fled to Delhi with Ayesha, claiming he was leaving for work. He also took more than 200,000 rupees (US$2,400) in cash and gold from the family home.
Shakeel later called his wife to announce he had married Ayesha.
The heartbroken wife said: “Ayesha was meant to be my son’s bride, now she is my husband’s wife.”
Aman claimed his grandparents knew about the affair and even helped them get married.
In India, Muslim men are allowed to have up to four wives. For other individuals, bigamy is a crime punishable by up to seven years in prison.
Theft, meanwhile, can lead to up to three years behind bars and a fine.
The local police said no official complaint has been filed but added they would act if a family member comes forward.
The incident has attracted widespread attention on social media.
One online observer said: “The man betrayed both his son and his wife. He deserves moral outrage and legal consequences.”
“I feel sorry for the girl. First arranged into marriage, then taken by an older man, she never really had a choice,” said another.
“Aman may never trust love again. Just look at what his reckless father did,” added a third.
Bizarre love stories are not unusual in India.
In April, a woman eloped with her would-be son-in-law, taking over 350,000 rupees (US$4,000) in cash and jewellery worth more than 500,000 rupees (US$6,000) from the family home. - South China Morning Post
