‘Madly in love’: Bihar woman marries son-in-law in panchayat-approved ceremony

Suraj married his mother-in-law Asha Devi in a panchayat-approved ceremony in Bihar’s Madhepura district.

A 42-year-old woman married her son-in-law in a panchayat-approved ceremony in Bihar’s Madhepura district, leaving her daughter and one-year-old grandson in shock.

Suraj (R) married his mother-in-law Asha Devi in a panchayat-approved ceremony in Bihar’s Madhepura district. (AN Jha/HT Photo)

The 19-year-old daughter – Lalita -- was happily married for over two years before her mother Asha Devi fell in love with Suraj, 22, when she visited the young couple to take care of the ailing son-in-law.

The romance blossomed even after Asha left for her home in Puraini with the duo talking for hours over the phone, sources said.

Asha’s husband worked in a Delhi factory, giving enough opportunity to Suraj and Asha for clandestine meet-ups. They married in a court ceremony in Purnia last month.

“The couple is madly in love and there is no reason to separate them,” the panchayat ruled last week as it approved the union.

Asha’s former husband brought his daughter home to Puraini but HT couldn’t confirm if Suraj obtained a formal divorce.

“When my wife and son-in-law have married each other, what is the use of leaving my daughter with them,” he said.

Post-marriage, the newly-weds are staying together, police said. “They have local society’s sanction and no complaint has been filed to allow us to legally intervene in any way,” police officials told HT.