Hindu Marriage Act says, polygamy is illegal but those who want to practice polygamy convert to Muslim religion. In Islam polygamy is permissible for men.They can only have four wives at any point of time.
Practicing polygamy were a tradition in ancient Hindu society.Kings and other important persons practiced polygamy. Practicing polygamy were a tradition in ancient Hindu society.Kings and other persons practiced polygamy.Under Hindu Marriage Act, polygamy is forbidden for Hindu, Jains, and Sikhs. But Muslims in India are allowed to have multiple wives (Maximum- four).
According to section 494 of the Indian Penal Code, marrying again during the life time of a husband or wife,if proved imprisonment for seven years and fine.Though very few people prosecute under the act,court can order maintenance to husband to compensate his legitimate or illegitimate child whether married or not unable to maintain itself or his legitimate or illegitimate child(not being a married daughter)who has attained majority,where such child is,by reason of any physical or mental abnormality or injury to maintain itself under the sec.125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,1973. A recent Rajasthan High Court judgement says that remarrying during subsistence of an earlier marriage, during divorce proceedings or immediately after the grant of divorce is illegal for a Hindu.
Polygamy is widely practiced all over India since ancient time.Some important politicians, film personalities even common people have more than one wife. It is widely used (converting to Muslim religion) as an escape route. Ex-Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. karunanidhi has three wives. Former Haryana deputy chief minister Chander Mohan,who had hit the headlines few years back for marring assistant advocate-general Anuradha Bali after converting to Muslim. Chander Mohan became Chand Mohammad and Anuradha became Fiza. Bollywood actor Dharmendra married actress Hema Malini with out divorcing his first wife.Other film personalities also practice polygamy openly like producer Bonny Kapur (he married late actress Sridevi), script writer Salim, film director Mahesh Bhatt.Sudipta Sen, the man behind the biggest Ponzi scam in the history of Bengal who operated the unlicensed funds,duped hundreds of thousands of depositors in West Bengal and other parts of Eastern India allegedly has three wives and he is now languishing in prison.
