Jajpur: In a dramatic turn of events, Dharmasala police detained a groom while he was preparing to marry for the second time at a temple in Jaraka, Jajpur district, following a complaint by his first wife, who alleged that they were not legally divorced.

The incident took place at the Trinath Temple in Jaraka, where Bibhudendu Padhi of Pattamundai in Kendrapada district was reportedly preparing to marry another woman. His first wife, Suchismita Panda, arrived at the spot with other family members and opposed the marriage. Police subsequently took Bibhudendu to the police station and detained him.

Suchismita, a resident of Sundarpada who currently lives in the Hi-Tech area of Bhubaneswar, said she married Bibhudendu on November 24, 2017, according to Hindu rituals. The couple has an eight-year-old daughter.

According to Suchismita, marital disputes arose over her husband's alleged extramarital relationship with his longtime girlfriend. She claimed that the couple had been facing problems over the issue for the past two years and that divorce proceedings were pending in court.

Wife alleges extramarital affair, seeks justice

Suchismita said she approached Dharmasala police after learning that her husband was planning to marry his longtime girlfriend despite their marriage remaining legally valid.

She alleged that she had filed a complaint at the Mahila Police Station in Bhubaneswar in May 2025 over her husband's alleged extramarital relationship. According to her, the police have already filed a chargesheet in the case.

She further alleged that her husband's family had failed to attend counselling despite receiving notices on four occasions.

"I want stringent action against my husband for ruining my life. We are not divorced yet, but he decided to marry his longtime girlfriend without following the legal procedure. I demand justice for myself and my daughter," Suchismita said.

Allegations of dowry demand and misrepresentation

Suchismita also alleged that Bibhudendu's family had misrepresented his professional qualifications before the marriage. She claimed that he had presented himself as a chartered accountant but that she later discovered he had not cleared his final-year examinations.

She further alleged that her in-laws demanded dowry after the marriage. According to her, her father, who works as a priest, provided gold ornaments, including two gold chains, rings and a bracelet, despite his limited income.

These allegations are yet to be independently verified, and Bibhudendu's response was not available at the time of filing this report.

Dharmasala police have initiated an investigation into the complaint. Further details regarding the legal status of the pending matrimonial proceedings and the circumstances surrounding the proposed second marriage are awaited.