Man sues son for marrying ‘beneath him’

A father in eastern India is suing his only son for defamation after he married a woman from a lower caste, saying that he has damaged his reputation and social standing.

Sidhnath Sharma is seeking 10,000,000 rupees (€116,483) in damages from his son, Sushant Jasu, and wants to prevent him from using the family surname, with a court hearing set to resume this weekend in Bihar state.

Sharma, a lawyer from the upper-caste Bhumihar group, said the marriage last year broke 400-odd years of tradition.