40-Year-Old Woman Allegedly Elopes With 14-Year-Old Boy; Police Ask Teenager’s Family To Produce Birth Certificate

Authorities in India are investigating the case of a 40-year-old woman who allegedly eloped with a 14-year-old boy.

The incident took place in the state of Gujarat. The woman was reportedly married, and had six children. She allegedly "fell in love" with the minor boy while they were working as laborers.

The police have now called for the boy's family to furnish his birth certificate to determine his real age, so that the case can be registered against the woman under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), if applicable, Times Now News reported.

The investigating officer told the media outlet the incident came to light when the minor's family approached the authorities claiming the woman had abducted their minor son. He said, according to another government-issued identity card produced by the child's family, the boy was 14 years old as of 2021.

"The matter is actually about a month old. The boy’s family approached Sukhsar police station with a complaint that the woman had abducted their minor son, who is 14. As per the Adhar card of the boy, shown by his family, his year of birth is 2007, which makes him 14-year-old but during the probe, we also came across one of his conversations with his father, where he is asserting that he is an adult and born in 1997. We have asked the boy's family to produce his birth certificate for clarification so that we can proceed with the case if it fits under the POCSO act," police officer N.P. Shelot told The Indian Express.

The identity of the woman wasn't revealed by the authorities. The official said that the boy's family decided to alert the cops after a failed monetary negotiation between the two families.

"From the primary investigation after recording statements of both the families, it doesn’t appear that both the sides are revealing the truth… we have learned that they were in talks for a financial negotiation, as is the practice in this region to settle disputes between families from which persons have eloped together… It seems like their negotiation talks failed and the boy’s family decided to file a complaint. We are not even sure if the alleged abduction, as the boy’s family claims, happened in Gandhinagar, where they were working or at Sukhsar or any other place," Shehlot told the outlet.

However, the woman's husband claimed he first approached the minor boy's family accusing the latter of "luring his wife to elope." The police said the boy's family located the duo and decided to bring them back to the village to resolve the issue, but they escaped.