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BENGALURU: A city family court directed Devanand Shivashankarappa Kashappanavar , son of the late former Karnataka minister S R Kashappanavar, to pay Rs 4 crore as permanent alimony to his wife within 60 days. The verdict was pronounced on July 24, 2017.

What makes the case interesting is that Devanand’s mother deposed in court in support of her daughter-in-law. Allowing a petition by the woman in 2015 seeking dissolution of their four-year-old marriage and payment of Rs 4.85 crore alimony, 5th additional principal family court judge K Bhagya noted that the couple had been living separately since February 12, 2012, and that there was no co-habitation between them from that day onwards.

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The petitioner’s efforts towards a rapprochement with her husband were not reciprocated by the latter. As per Section 13(1) 9(b) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, if the desertion dates back more than two years prior to filing of the petition for divorce, the petitioner is entitled to a divorce, the judge pointed out. The court also recorded that the respondent’s (Devanand) mother herself stated before the court that even when married to the petitioner, her son had married another woman and that they also have a child.

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In her affidavit, S R Kashappanavar’s wife, who is also the grandmother of the petitioner, submitted that her son married the other woman against the wishes of all elders and family members, and deserted the petitioner without fulfilling his marital obligations. She stated that her son owns vast tracts of land, runs a quarrying business, earns a huge amount of money, and has a Mercedes Benz SUV worth more than Rs 1 crore at his disposal.

The court also recorded that Devanand, despite being served notice, failed to appear before the court and contest the petition. The petitioner married Devanand, also her maternal uncle, on May 22, 2011, at Sri R Veeramani Stadium, Ilkal, Hungund taluk, Bagalkot district. She claimed she had been pursuing a BBA degree when the marriage took place, much against her wishes. According to her, a few weeks into the marriage, her husband’s attitude changed completely and he began to treat her like a stranger. As rumours spread about his second marriage, the petitioner raised the issue with him. Devanand got wild and abused her, she said. Later, he told the petitioner that he had married her only to satisfy his late father’s wishes.

