In a landmark judgment, a Delhi court has ordered a woman to pay her ex-husband Rs. 15 lakh as damages for defamation. Judge Sunil Beniwal of the Saket District Court ruled that the ex-wife’s actions caused harm to her former husband’s reputation and hindered his professional growth.
The court found that the woman defamed her ex-husband through libel, proven by email and chat records submitted by the man. These records were supported by electronic evidence and were not challenged by the defendant.
The case was filed by the man, seeking compensation for defamation and false legal cases filed by his ex-wife. The couple had married in 2001, but the wife left the home in 2009 with their minor daughter. The husband alleged that after leaving, the wife filed multiple false and frivolous cases against him, making defamatory accusations in various courts and before authorities.
The man also claimed that his ex-wife prevented him from meeting their daughter, depriving him of her affection. He further argued that she used abusive language against him and his mother in conversations with her friends via email.
The couple’s marriage was dissolved in 2021 by a family court on the grounds of cruelty under the Hindu Marriage Act. However, the ex-husband claimed that even after the divorce, the woman continued to defame him by sending emails to his elderly maternal uncle, who was also his employer. He stated that the harassment affected his health, forcing him to undergo major surgery in March 2022, costing him Rs. 6 lakh.
The ex-wife, on the other hand, argued that the defamation case was false and aimed at harassing her. She also claimed the lawsuit was time-barred, as it was based on chats from 2010 and emails from 2020.
However, the court observed contradictions in the ex-wife’s statements, particularly regarding her use of multiple email IDs. The court also found the case to be within the time limit and ruled in favor of the ex-husband, ordering the woman to pay Rs. 15 lakh in damages, along with 9% interest from the date of filing until payment is made.
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