Andhra man sells his wife and children for five lakhs to get rid of debt

KURNOOL: At Koilakuntla, Kurnool district, a debt-ridden man sold his wife and children for Rs 5 lakh. According to the information, Venkatamma (35) of Nayandal town was married to Pasupuleti Maddileti (38). They had four girls and a boy.

Over the years, Maddileti became addicted to liquor and gambling. Unable to deal with the debt, he came up with a plan to sell his eldest daughter of age 17. He sold her to his relative, for Rs 1.5 lakh, on a condition that she should be married to his son's relative. He spent this money within no time and began looking for ways to get more.

This time he arranged to sell his wife and their remaining children to his brother Busi for Rs 5 lakh. This matter came to light when his brother Busi urged on executing an agreement with his wife before he made the deal.

When Maddileti asked his wife to sign, she refused. She was then tortured. Unable to tolerate him, Venkatamma ran away to her parent's house at Nandyal. Her parents reported the matter to the Nandyal Taluka police station and filed a complaint.

Sub-inspector Ramesh Babu said that in Budaga Jangalu community, buying and selling of wives is a regular practice. He told the newspaper that he received a complaint but refused to accept that it was related to a man selling his wife. The complaint was about the husband harassing his wife and the police are looking into that matter he added.

Thought the practice of selling one's wife was found in Budaga Jangalu community, the husband putting his entire family on sale against their wishes is what makes this case unique said an officer of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). They rescued the two eldest girls and they have sent them to a state home.