Husband Giving Money, Time to His Mother Isn’t Domestic Violence, Says Mumbai Court

Mumbai: A sessions court in Mumbai observed that a man giving time and money to his mother cannot be considered as domestic violence.

The court made this observation while dismissing a petition of a woman challenging a magistrate court order over her complaint against her husband and in-laws.

Additional sessions judge of Dindoshi court in Mumbai on Tuesday also added that said the allegations against the respondents are vague and ambiguous and there is nothing to prove that they subjected the applicant (woman) to domestic violence.

The woman is employed as an assistant in the Maharashtra state secretariat. In a complaint filed before a magistrate court under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act for an order seeking protection, monetary relief and compensation, she alleged that her husband got married to her by suppressing the mental illness of his mother and deceived her.

She said her husband serving abroad used to visit his mother whenever he returned on leave and was sending money to his mother regularly. He also spent money for his mother’s eye operation, the woman said. She also alleged harassment by the other members of her in-laws’ family.

The man in return alleged that his wife had withdrawn Rs 21.68 lakh from his NRE (non-resident external) account without his knowledge and purchased a flat with the money.

After recording of evidence of the woman and others, the magistrate court dismissed her plea.