A peculiar and controversial relationship case in Karnataka's Mandya district has attracted widespread attention after a married woman and a married man who are parents of two children were said to have eloped and have since posted photographs that they married.
The incident is reported from Shikaripura village in Nagamangala taluk, where the unexpected development has caused both families distress and police intervention.
According to local reports, the wife, Pavithra, was married to Vijay Kumar for some years. The couple had two children and had been living together in the village. Also, the man involved in the case, Yesudas, is also married and is the father of two children.
Pavithra operated a local hotel or restaurant in the village and is said to be frequently visited by people from the area. It is said that Yesudas often visited the place and slowly established a friendship with Pavithra. It was said that the friendship developed into a romantic relationship.
The two, while married and with families of their own, continued their relationship for several months. But it was largely private until this week, when they were reported to have disappeared from the village.
Family members then searched for them and tried to make contact. But the situation turned dramatic when both Pavithra and Yesudas sent photographs to their spouses claiming they had married each other.
According to reports, Pavithra sent wedding photographs to her husband Vijay Kumar, while Yesudas shared similar pictures with his wife. The images were quickly circulated among family members and residents, and heated discussions occurred in the village.
Both families are shocked. The main concern now is the welfare of the four children who have been affected by the situation, family members say.
Vijay Kumar went to the police to file a complaint after the photographs were circulated. He told them to help bring his wife back as they had a stake in the future of their children, he said.
And Yesudas's wife has also filed a complaint with the police regarding the disappearance of her husband and her marriage to Pavithra. Both families have also sought legal advice and asked authorities to investigate the matter.
Police have also registered a case at Nagamangala Rural Police Station and are investigating the facts. They are expected to record statements from the concerned parties and will also need to see what legal infringements have been made.
The case has become a major topic of discussion in the region because of the unusual circumstances involved. Adult individuals are free to make their own choices, but the matter has received attention because both of them were married and had dependent children.
Family disputes that involve marital relationships can be handled very carefully if children are involved, legal experts say. In these situations, authorities are usually concerned about the safety and well-being of all parties and the legal issues that arise from the complaint.
Police will review the couple’s claims and determine the next step and whether they know how they should proceed.
