Case Registered After Alleged Attempt at Child Marriage in Bengaluru Mosque

Bengaluru, October 1, 2025 – A case has been filed following allegations that a child marriage was about to take place in a mosque in Neelasandra, near Anepalya, Bengaluru. The complaint was lodged by the District Child Helpline’s coordinator, accusing unknown persons of attempting the marriage.

The incident came to light when the parents discovered their 16-year-old daughter with a 20-year-old youth. Reports say the families decided to formalize the union. According to the FIR, on September 26 at around 1 a.m., the 1098 helpline was alerted that the girl was being forcibly married off at the mosque in the presence of members of the mosque’s community. The police visited the site the next day.

While some mosque representatives stated that only religious rites were being observed and maintain that no legal marriage took place, authorities say they have obtained photographs and videos of the preparations. Under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, even the planning or facilitation of a child marriage is a punishable offense.

In addition to the FIR filed with the Ashok Nagar Police, legal action has been sought through a complaint to higher police authorities and the Child Welfare Committee. Advocate Hussain Owaisi, who filed the additional petition, has named alleged participants in the act, although the official FIR does not yet mention specific individuals, including the parents.