Bhubaneswar, July 18: A 52-year-old man, father of two sons, was today detained for allegedly marrying a 13-year-old girl at Naput village in Tamando police limits on the city outskirts.

The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Khurda today rescued the girl, who had married the man on July 7, with the help of police. The man, Shankar Nayak, works as a daily wager.

CWC member Benudhar Senapati said they got a tip-off a few days ago about the marriage and took action.

"The two families met twice on July 5 and 6 and the man married the minor near a tulasi plant by exchanging garlands on July 7. We suspect the man gave money to the family of the girl in exchange for marrying her," said Senapati.

Investigation revealed the man has two sons aged 14 and 16 years.

"The man claimed that his former wife died of jaundice six months ago, which prompted him to remarry . His statement is being verified," said a police officer.

The CWC said the neighbours of the girl were against the wedding because of her age and even advised her to flee.

"The girl told us that she tried to convince her father not to get her married off to the elderly man. But, her family members pressured her into the marriage. Her family members had told her not to return to her paternal place ever again after the wedding," added Senapati.

The cops are interrogating Nayak. "I neither pressured the girl nor offered any money to her family members for the marriage. The wedding was finalised with the consent of the girl and her family members," he claimed.

The police said they would consult with the law officer of the twin cities police for further action in the case. "The case is civil in nature and it is the duty of the district child marriage prohibition officer to move court under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006," said a police officer.

He also said they had asked the parents of the girl to produce documents to ascertain her age.

Asked whether a case of child marriage can be construed as civil in nature, Bhagabat Rath, a city advocate, said: "The case is both civil and criminal in nature. The civil court is empowered by law to declare such marriage null and void and at the same time, the criminal court can impose punishment as per law. Police can register a case and record the statement of the girl before a magistrate and conduct an investigation. The girl's parents are also liable for forcing her into marriage."