Legal twist to Dutt’s wedding

The court wedding of Sanjay Dutt and Manyata in Goa last week is under the scanner with authorities ordering an inquiry into the couple's entire marriage registration process.

The probe was ordered by the South Goa District Collector with sources saying the Collectorate has taken to task a local 'panchayat talathi' (government officer), who had issued the residence certificate to Manyata, sources said after questions were raised about the document provided by her.

The couple, who had a court wedding on February seven, had submitted their declaration of marriage to the sub-Registrars office in Salcette in Margao. Though the marriage was registered, the final signature of the couple is awaited for it to be made legal, sources said.

An Inquiry has been ordered into how a certificate was issued to Manyata when she is not a Goa resident, an official said. In this case, Manyata has submitted a declaration by a former government servant, who has certified that she was staying in his flat at Aquem, a suburban locality of South Goa's Margao city, sources said.

For any marriage to be registered in Goa, either of the applicants has to be a Goan resident and the relevant document has to be certified by the local authorities.

Sources said the state authorities are also inquiring into how the declaration was accepted when Manyata has not attached a decree of her divorce along with the affidavit filed.

Sanjay and Manyata later got married as per Hindu rituals at a simple wedding that took place at his friend Pradeep's residence at Versova in Mumbai on February 11.