Bombay HC Stays Maintenance Order Against Ex-Minister Dhananjay Munde in DV Case, Grants Relief with 50% Clause

In a major relief to former Maharashtra minister and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) leader Dhananjay Munde, the Bombay High Court recently stayed a trial court order that had asked him to pay maintenance to a woman allegedly claiming to be his wife in a domestic violence case.

A single-judge bench presided over by Justice Manjusha Deshpande passed the order subject to the condition that ex-minister Munde deposit 50% of the amount in court.

The case at hand arises from a complaint filed by Karuna Sharma, allegedly claiming to be Munde's wife, along with their daughter, under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.

Earlier in February 2014, a magistrate in Bandra had directed the minister to pay Rs 1.25 lakh per month to the woman and Rs 75,000 per month to their daughter under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence (DV) Act. The court had held that a prima facie case of domestic violence was made out.

Thereafter, Munde had challenged the said decision before the sessions court, which had upheld the magistrate's order on April 5. While dismissing the leader’s appeal, the sessions court had noted that his estranged partner and their daughter are entitled to the same standard of living as the one being enjoyed by him.

The matter then reached the high court, wherein Munde, represented by his advocates Shardul Singh and Sayali Sawant, argued that he had never legally married the complainant and hence, the DV Act did not apply.

The matter will now come up before the court after eight weeks.

With inputs from The Indian Express