Mumbai, Mar 01: Lawyer Mrunalini Deshmukh has said that if starlet Manyatta has not converted to being a Hindu, her marrige with bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt is invalid under the Hindu Marriage Act.

“Even though Sanjay and Manyatta have filed a joint declaration with Goa's registration authorities seeking withdrawal of their marriage declaration, the marriage will be invalid under the Act if either person is non-Hindu at the time of marriage," said Deshmukh.

“If Manyatta defies the condition, then either party can challenge the marriage at the time of annulment,” she added.

Sanjay and Manyatta had filed a declaration before the Salcette Sub Registrar Chandrakant Pissurlekar on February 7.

Goa's marriage laws automatically make the wife the co-owner of 50 per cent of her husband's property. The laws framed by the erstwhile Portuguese rulers provide for the safety and equal rights of spouses. If the husband dies without writing a will, the wife can stake a claim to three-fourths of her husband's wealth.

The Sunjay-Manyatta marriage still stands unregistered and invalid. The case of committing fraud in the residence certificate is pending in the sub-registrar's office.

Manyatta is yet to respond to the show-cause notice, asking why her residence certificate should not be cancelled on grounds of fraud. The case will be heard on March 7.
(ANI)