Udupi: After eloping with another woman last year, a man who recently announced triple talaq on Facebook messenger, was arrested by Shirva police in Karnataka.

The accused was identified as Sheikh Mohammed Saleem (38), a resident of Shirva and the victim was Swapnaz who lives in Saudi Arabia. The woman is said to have filed her complaint under the provision of new legislation that prohibits instant triple talaq, making it a punishable offence.

The accused married Swapnaz in 2010 and the couple have a daughter. The man cheated her and later eloped to Mumbai with another woman.

As police were informed about Saleem's movements in Shirva, police arrested him.

The triple talaq was made a criminal offence last year. 

On the first anniversary of the triple talaq bill's passage in Parliament, the BJP had even hailed its impact, saying it has contributed to woman empowerment and given women the dignity they deserve in society.

"One year ago on 30th July, 2019, Narendra Modi government abolished #TripleTalaq. It has contributed to women empowerment and given them the dignity they deserve in our society. Now, #TripleTalaq Cases have dropped by 82 per cent since the law was enacted," Union minister and senior party leader Prakash Javadekar had tweeted.

Minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had even shared videos of Muslim women thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing in the legislation to end the practice.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act prohibits the practice of instant divorce by Muslim men. Any violation of the law is punishable by jail term of up to three years.