Brijbhanu Barua

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127 appearances 1 recordings 1 series first heard Jul 2026 last heard 19 Jul

Brijbhanu Barua’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.

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Recordings per month over the last 12 months — 1 in all, peaking in Jul 2026 with 1.

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She says there are all kinds of ways consenting teenagers can land in trouble under box law.

I'm Drishbhanu Barua.

You're listening to the documentary Love on Trial, India's Age of Consent Controversy from the BBC World Service.

Today, at her office in Bangalore, Khushi is meeting up with a young woman who is now 18.

Younger teenagers in India are getting involved in sexual relationships.

And Reena, not her real name, was a vulnerable 14-year-old when she became friends with an older boy.

And over time, they grew close.

During the COVID lockdown, her parents were out working long hours and Reena would often have the house to herself.

It was at that time she'd invite her new friend around to keep her company.

And with the place to themselves, they began to explore.

Reena is remembering the traumatic events with Khushi, who helped her through that period.

By the time they reached the clinic, she was already six months pregnant, just days short of the legal limit for termination.

But before the family could decide anything, the police showed up at the door that same night.

Reena's father was terrified the case could destroy both of their futures and told her she would need to explain things in court.

But the boy had already spent months in jail.

But had Reena and her parents not intervened, he could have faced 20 years in prison.

Because she tells us Reena's story isn't unique in her experience.

She says she's seen other cases where nobody realizes teenagers are in a relationship until the girl turns up pregnant at a clinic.

And in another case Kashi worked on, even the girl's own parents were asking why her boyfriend should be punished.

And even when a case doesn't end in a long sentence, Khushi says the impact on a family standing in their community can be huge.

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