Armaan Malik 's second marriage to Kritika Malik is 'illegal', says lawyer Sana Raees Khan : 'Polygamy not legally recognized in India for Hindus'

The Controversy Surrounding Armaan Malik 's Marriages

Ever since Bigg Boss OTT 3 started, contestant Armaan Malik 's two marriages with Payal Malik and Kritika Malik have been a hot topic of discussion. Both inside and outside the Bigg Boss house, people have expressed their views on the polygamous relationship, with actors Devoleena Bhattacharjee and Karan Kundrra voicing strong opinions.

Devoleena called Armaan , Payal , and Kritika 's marriage "filth and a disease" in her posts, and even had a heated argument with Payal about the same. With so much attention on this relationship, Indianexpress.com reached out to lawyer Sana Raees Khan , who has also been an ex- Bigg Boss contestant, to get her take on the legalities of their relationship.

Who are Armaan , Payal , and Kritika Malik ?

Armaan Malik , formerly known as Sandip Jangda , was earlier married to a woman named Suchitra . However, the two got divorced, after which Armaan fell in love with Payal . As revealed by Payal Malik , they got married seven days after meeting each other. Eight years later, Armaan met Payal 's best friend, Kritika , and within a week, he married her. Armaan has six children — two daughters with Suchitra , three children with Payal , and one with Kritika .

The Malik family has found popularity as YouTube content creators, and they have had many rumors and controversies surrounding them too. It was speculated that Armaan converted to Islam to get married multiple times, but his wife Payal recently told Indianexpress.com that the Bigg Boss OTT 3 contestant has not changed his religion and belongs to the Jatt community.

Payal also shared that she feels betrayed by Armaan , and after he married Kritika , she separated from him for a year. However, they reconciled later and have been together since.

The Legal Perspective

When asked about their polygamous relationship, lawyer Sana Raees Khan said, "In India, under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, a Hindu man can legally have only one wife at a time. Polygamy is not permitted for Hindu individuals. Therefore, a second marriage would be considered illegal and not recognized under Indian law."

Sana further commented on the impact of showcasing Armaan and his wives on Bigg Boss OTT 3, stating, "The portrayal of a Hindu husband with two wives on a reality show can create confusion about the legality of polygamy under Hindu law, as polygamy is not legally recognized in India for Hindus. This might lead to misunderstandings among viewers about the norms governing marriages in Hinduism. It could perpetuate stereotypes or misconceptions about Hindu practices and beliefs regarding marriage. And could potentially normalize or glamorize relationships that are not legally or socially accepted in the context of modern Hindu society."

While Payal was evicted from Bigg Boss OTT 3, Armaan and Kritika are still a part of the game, and the controversy surrounding their marriages continues to unfold.