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Anti-dowry icon, Nisha Sharma, ties the knot

Last updated on: November 21, 2003 21:45 IST

Nisha Sharma, who hit the headlines six months ago for sending her would-be groom to jail for demanding dowry, on Wednesday married a software engineer.

The marriage was solemnised at a quiet ceremony at her residence in Noida in the outskirts of Delhi. Her husband Ashwin Sharma is based in Modi Nagar, a small town close to Noida.

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Nisha became an icon for millions of youth when she called the police and got her would-be groom and his mother arrested for demanding more than the agreed upon amount of dowry on the day of the wedding.

"I have got my life partner. I want to forget my past. I am going to start a new life," Nisha (21), a software engineering student, told rediff.com over telephone.

The match was arranged through a common family friend. The engagement had taken place in September 2003.

She was dressed in a deep red sari for the marriage. As per her mother-in-law's wishes, Nisha will now be known as Nitisha for "better luck."

Nisha's father D D Sharma owns a battery-manufacturing unit in Noida. "I gave a gold chain to my daughter. The marriage was simple and we had invited only a few people. I am happy that everything went off well."

However, there were some last minute hitches. The marriage was scheduled for Wednesday evening but was advanced to avoid legal complications. The ceremony began at 3:00 am and concluded late in the morning.

Munish Dalal, with whom Nisha's marriage had been arranged earlier, and Navneet Rai, her college friend with whom she is accused of having had an affair, had approached the courts seeking a stay on the marriage. Munish Dalal and his mother Vidya Dalal are now out on bail.

Dalal had filed a petition in a Ghaziabad court seeking a stay on the marriage claiming he was booked under an anti-dowry law, which is applicable only on husbands. Therefore, she was her wife.

On the other hand, Rai sought to stop the marriage claiming Nisha had secretly married him. Nisha had earlier filed a defamation suit against Rai in this regard.

After the marriage was solemnised, D D Sharma said: "I don't know anything about these cases. We have not received any notices."

Ehtasham Khan in New Delhi