In Wada, Palghar, the case of a 16-year-old girl from the Katkari tribe has revealed a disturbing child marriage and trafficking racket that preys on impoverished tribal families. Married off at the age of 14 for Rs 50,000, the girl was forcibly trafficked as a “wife” and later kicked out by her husband and in-laws after giving birth to a daughter.
Two people — her husband and a local accused of brokering the deal — were arrested by Wada police late on Friday (October 3) evening, following intervention by activists from Shramjeevi Sanghatana, who ensured an FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and anti-trafficking laws was registered against six individuals.
“We have arrested Jeevan Balasaheb Gade and Ravi Krishna Kore and are continuing our investigation. Since this is an old offence, we will have to send a team to Nashik to conduct inquiries and gather additional evidence,” said Inspector Dattatray Kendre.
Married off at 14
The minor, born on October 10, 2008, was married to Gade, 27, in 2022, when she was 14 years old. The marriage was facilitated by a broker, Kore, from her hometown in Parli, Wada. “My mother initially refused, saying I was too young,” the survivor recounted in her FIR statement registered on October 2. “But Kore threatened my mother, saying her right over me was gone as she had remarried, and the groom’s family threatened to ruin my reputation if the wedding didn’t happen immediately.”
The Wada police registered an FIR and are investigating the case. Pic/By Special Arrangement
After the forced marriage, the abuse began. In 2023, the minor was forced into pregnancy. Her husband allegedly forged her Aadhaar card, changing her date of birth to October 20, 2003, to conceal the child marriage. During delivery, the survivor was initially referred to Wada Government Hospital, then to Thane, but due to labour pain, her mother took her to Jawhar Government Hospital, where on October 3, 2023, she delivered a baby girl.
Constant abuse, gender bias
After the birth of her daughter, the abuse intensified. The survivor said her husband demanded a son, repeatedly assaulted her, denied her food, and forced her to work. She added, “My husband would constantly fight with me, accusing me of having affairs. He repeatedly taunted me, saying, ‘I bought you for R50,000; ask your parents to return the money’.”
Her in-laws, Shobha Gade and Amol Gade, also taunted and abused her. Further, the girl’s husband accused her of having an affair with her cousin Suraj Sunil Pawar, who was staying nearby for construction work. On September 27, 2025, her husband forcibly sent the minor and her child back to her parents’ home in Parli, saying: “Stay with them, don’t return.”
Activists demand action
The case came to light after Shramjeevi Sanghatana Maharashtra, led by founder Vivek Bhau Pandit, found the distraught minor outside Wada police station. “She was sitting outside the police station and told us, ‘I was thrown out of my house… they don’t provide me with food. I want to file a case against them’,” said Vijay Jadhav, state secretary of Shramjeevi Sanghatana. Activists escorted the minor to Wada Police Inspector Dattatray Kendre, who escalated the matter to Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh, leading to immediate registration of the FIR.
The larger issue
“This is not an isolated incident. Two more girls from the same village were sold earlier. Just today, police in Sangamner intercepted another child marriage. Poverty, lack of education, and hunger make these girls easy targets for such trafficking,” Jadhav said, highlighting the wider problem. He warned the district administration to hold ground-level officials — gram sevaks, police patils, anganwadi and ASHA workers, PESA mobilisers, etc — accountable for failing to prevent breaches of the Child Marriage Prohibition Act, 2006.
Charges and investigation
Based on the minor’s testimony, an FIR was registered against six people, including her husband Jeevan Gade, her in-laws Shobha Gade and Amol Gade, broker Ravi Krishna Kore, and two individuals who are yet to be identified. The Wada police have registered offences under IPC Sections 376(2)(N) (repeated rape), 370 (trafficking), 468 (forgery), 498(A) (cruelty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (joint liability), along with relevant sections of the SC/ST Atrocities Act, 1989 (amended 2015), the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and the POCSO Act, 2012.
Currently, the case is being investigated by Sub-Inspector Sumedh Medhe, under the supervision of Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Jawhar, SS Maher and Inspector Dattatray Kendre. Activists warn that a deep-rooted network continues to exploit young tribal girls, turning their poverty into illegal profit.
