Rourkela drunk groom in trouble again as ‘first wife’ surfaces

Rourkela: High drama unfolded at Tangarpali police station in Odisha’s Rourkela city today after a young woman claimed herself as the ‘first wife’ of Shankar Panda who was detained by police for creating ruckus during his wedding ceremony and misbehaving with bride’s family members in an inebriated state.

The concerned woman, a resident of Sector-7 here, lodged a complaint with police in this regard alleging that Shankar had married her in November last year at a local court.

She further alleged that Shankar, a resident of Champagarh under Bandhamunda police limits, had physical relation with her and she is currently pregnant. The woman also produced their marriage certificate and some photos of the wedding to cement her claims.

She also said that the marriage was solemnised in the presence of Shankar’s family members.

Acting on the basis of the complaint, police have arrested Shankar and his brother and registered a case in this connection.

Notably, Shankar and his friends, during his marriage ceremony with a girl of Labour Colony here on Sunday, had allegedly abused the bride’s family members in a drunken state at the wedding venue at Saranagari Jagannath Temple here.

The wedding was then stopped mid-way and Shankar detained by police after the bride’s family members lodged a complaint.

However, the marriage was later conducted at the police station with intervention of social activists and lawyers from both sides after Shankar apologised to the bride’s family members and expressed his willingness to marry the girl.