Pintu’s second wife, Gudiya Kumari, a resident of Goria Kothi in Siwan district, told the police that she has a 10-month-old baby with him. She alleged that she was kept in the dark about his first marriage.

“Neither Pintu nor his family members ever told me about his first marriage. My husband deceived me by marrying another woman without divorcing me,” she told the police.

She also accused Pintu and his family of dowry harassment. “The family has a history of marrying women for financial gain. The practice of ruining the lives of women should be stopped. Police should take stringent action against the accused,” she said, adding that she would approach higher authorities if justice was not delivered.

During interrogation, Pintu told the police that he has a baby with his third wife, who is currently staying with his family. He claimed that his first two wives, Khushboo and Gudiya, left his home following quarrels over cooking and serving food to his mother, who is a senior citizen aged over 60 and allegedly unable to manage routine household work.

“I have had no physical relationship with Khushboo and Gudiya for a long time. They left my home on their own. I had to cook for my mother,” he told the investigating officer. He further alleged that Khushboo once attempted to kill him and his mother.

“People of my village are aware of the behaviour of Khushboo and Gudiya towards my mother,” he claimed.

Khushboo, however, stated in her complaint that she came to know about Pintu’s alleged second marriage without divorcing her on April 18, 2024, and later learnt about his third marriage, which prompted her to lodge a formal complaint.

She admitted that she did not return to her husband’s house after leaving it. “While his second wife has a 10-month-old baby, his third wife has a one-month-old baby,” she told the police.

Khushboo said she filed complaints against Pintu, his mother, sister and brother, all of whom have been arrested. Pintu, meanwhile, blamed his earlier wives’ alleged ill-treatment of his mother and her deteriorating health for his repeated marriages.