Man Arrested for Marrying & Sexually Exploiting a 14-year-old Child

Karima after her rescue

On April 21, 2025, we received intel that a survivor had been re-trafficked. A few days later, we received additional intel: the survivor’s younger sister was to be forcibly married and then sold into prostitution. We were able to speak directly with the victim, 14-year-old Karima.

Karima shared her heartbreaking story with us. Her mother and brother had sold her into marriage for Rs 40,000 (~450) to a 27-year-old man. Her husband sexually exploited her and offered her out for money to 2-3 other men a day. Karima pleaded with us over the phone to rescue her. We reassured her that we would do everything we could to rescue her.

On May 20, we learned that Karima was being held in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, but we were still unable to determine her exact location. We proceeded to Jalgaon and continued looking for her. While we searched for Karima, we tried to contact the Jalgaon Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to assist us in locating Karima, but their office had been shut down and their cases transferred to the CWC in Dhule (57 miles away). Due to the distance, the CWC would only hear cases from Jalgaon on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and they offered us an appointment for Saturday, May 24. 

Meanwhile, we met the Jalgaon Superintendent of Police, SP. We shared our intel on Karima and requested him to rescue her. The SP immediately called the Crime Branch and instructed them to prepare a team to carry out a raid. 

Initially, the police faced some challenges in determining Karima’s whereabouts, but they eventually narrowed in on her location. After receiving permission from the SP, we accompanied the police during the raid. 

On May 22 at 9:05 p.m., the police and our team rescued 14-year-old Karima. The police arrested Karima’s husband and his mother at the house. After the police filed their initial reports, we proceeded to the police station, where the police recorded Karima’s statement. The police contacted Karima’s school principal that night to verify her age. 

On the morning of May 23, the police received Karima’s official document with her date of birth: Karima was 14 years and seven months old. The police added the Child Marriage Act and POCSO to the First Information Report. These documents will strengthen Karima's case.

Over the following days, we accompanied Karima to her medical tests and connected with a local advocate who will give updates on Karima’s case in the Sessions Court in Jalgaon. 

A few days later, Karima appeared before the Dhule CWC, and they passed an order for Karima to be placed in a shelter home where she remains safe.