Police in Maharashtra on Sunday prevented a woman from marrying off her 15-year-old girl to a 40-year-old man and arrested 12 people in this connection.

The girl, residing in Mochipura locality of Akola city, was to be married to a resident of Kotroad Kachha (Gujarat), the police said.

Her mother allegedly took Rs 45,000 from the 'bridegroom'.

However, a Shiv Sena worker alerted the police, who swung into action and arrested the 'bridegroom' and others, including the person who gave Rs 45,000 to the girl's mother.