Karnataka: Friend fails to repay debt, man marries his wife

BELAGAVI: A man staged a dharna outside the deputy commissioner’s office on Tuesday with a peculiar demand – he wanted his wife back from his friend, who he alleged, had abducted and married her. The reason, reportedly, is a loan of Rs 500 which he had failed to repay. But there is more to the story than meets the eye, sources said.

Basavaraj Konannavar of Murakibhavi village in Bailhongal taluk and Ramesh Hukkeri of Mudakanatti in Gokak had become friends while working as suppliers at a hotel in Shahapur. Parvati, who would become Basavaraj’s wife, also worked at the same hotel. She and Ramesh were also close to each other.

Basavaraj and Parvati went on to marry in 2011 and have a three-year-old daughter.



Basavaraj alleged that around two months ago, Ramesh abducted Parvati and married her over the unpaid loan. Parvati is pregnant with their second child, he alleged. Ramesh, who was married, reportedly sent his wife to her mother’s home.

Basavaraj said he tried to file a complaint soon after his wife was abducted but nobody took him seriously. On Tuesday, he said Parvati was living with Ramesh for the past two months and refusing to return. He also produced an audio recording in which Ramesh purportedly threatens him and asks him to stay away.

Before sitting on dharna, Basavaraj met city police commissioner DC Rajappa and sought his help to register a complaint. The commissioner has asked police to take up the case.