The Bombay High Court on Friday ordered the Mumbai Police to provide round-the-clock protection to an interfaith couple who expressed fear of being taken away by the Gujarat Police.

The court’s decision came after individual conversations with both the man and the woman.

The woman, who had left her home in Ahmedabad to marry the man, informed the court that she had entered the marriage willingly, despite knowing that he was already married with three children.

She further stated that she had not stolen any jewelry or cash as alleged by her family, who had filed a missing person complaint and a theft case against her.

The couple’s lawyers argued that the theft case was a retaliatory measure after they sought protection from the High Court. The woman’s parents and brother, along with Gujarat Police officials, were present in court.

While the woman refused to return to her parents’ home, she expressed willingness to hand over her jewelry to them.

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The court, recognizing the animosity between the couple and their families, ordered police protection to prevent any potential harm.

The Gujarat Police officials assured the court that they were in Mumbai solely to record statements and had no intention of forcibly taking the couple back to Gujarat. The court subsequently directed that these statements could be recorded via video conferencing.