NEW DELHI: A Muslim man has been absolved of charges of illegally confining and raping a minor from the same religion, whom he had married later by a Delhi court. The court cited the Mahomedan Law that allows a 15-year-old girl to marry against the wishes of her parents.

The accused was charged with rape and illegal confinement under the IPC.

The IPC treats a girl as minor, in relation to the offence of rape, till she attains the age of 16 years and establishing physical relations with her, even with her consent, is an offence entailing life term as maximum sentence.

Additional sessions judge (ASJ) Illa Rawat said the girl was on the verge of maturity when she voluntarily eloped with the accused last year and her parents were also aware of their relationship.

The court added that she was neither restrained nor confined forcibly and they got married after an FIR was registered.

The court said the Mahomedan Law does not consider as an offence the marriage with a 15-year-old girl.