DHRUV KAPOOR Vs. ALKA YADAV

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By way of this revision petition, the petitioner-husband has assailed the order dtd. 8/1/2025 [hereafter 'impugned order'], passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-04, Patiala House Courts, New Delhi [hereafter 'Sessions Court'] in CA No. 184/2024, wherein the learned Sessions Court has dismissed the appeal of the petitioner and upheld the order of interim maintenance dtd. 20/7/2024, passed by the learned MM, Mahila Court-01, Patiala House Courts, Delhi [hereafter 'Trial Court'] in CC No. 1748/2022.

(2.) Briefly stated, the facts of the present case are that the marriage between the respondent-wife and the petitioner-husband was solemnized on 3/12/2018 at the Grand Hotel, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, in accordance with Hindu rites and ceremonies. The petitioner states that at the time of marriage, the respondent was fully aware that he was not gainfully employed, and he had merely been nominated as a member of the Telephone Advisory Committee for a tenure of two years, which expired on 13/1/2024, and the said position was purely honorary with no salary attached to it. A few days after the marriage, disputes began to arise between the parties. The respondent alleges that throughout the marriage, she was allegedly subjected to continuous physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, and economic abuse by the petitioner and his family members. The petitioner, being an alcoholic, repeatedly assaulted and mistreated her and even attempted to burn her hand, leaving a permanent scar. The petitioner also took all her jewellery worth approximately Rs.20.00 lakhs, which remains unlawfully withheld by him. In October 2019, the respondent discovered the petitioner's involvement with other women and obtained evidence of payments made for sexual activities. In August 2019, the parties shifted from the matrimonial home to a rented accommodation in Vasant Kunj. The lease deed was executed in the name of the petitioner's mother, who continued to pay the rent under pressure and threats from the petitioner. She alleges that the subsequent termination of the lease was a deliberate act to harass, abandon, and deprive the respondent of support.

(3.) Thereafter, the respondent-wife had filed a complaint under Sec. 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 [hereafter 'PWDV Act'] against the petitioner and his mother, which was first listed before the Trial Court on 5/9/2022. Vide order dtd. 27/2/2023, the parties were directed to file their income affidavits alongwith supporting documents.