Pics:  Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Mar 27: A woman from Airodi village who was cheated by her husband and ill-treated by her in-laws is running from pillar to post for justice.

In the year 2012, Amitha had married Jagadish hailing from Padukone. Jagadish’s parents Kamala and Muttaiah Acharya had sought Amitha’s hand in marriage for their son and had approached her parents. However, they hid the fact that their son was already in a relationship with another woman named Sujatha.

Immediately after marriage, Jagadish settled in Muscat leaving Amitha with his parents. He used to visit his hometown once in a while and act indifferently towards Amitha. His parents treated her like their servant, she alleges.

For two years, Amitha continued to live in the long-distance marriage, unaware that her husband was living with Sujatha in Muscat. Sujatha who worked as a nurse in Muscat was in a relationship with Jagadish even before his marriage with Amitha. She was the one who ensured that Jagadish gets a job in Muscat as a technician in Toyota Company. They both have two children now.

In 2014, Amitha came to know about Jagadish’s affair through a relative. The families discussed, and it was agreed that Jagadish will compensate Amitha with Rs 25 lacs, and will apply for divorce on mutual consent.

As per the agreement, Jagadish paid Rs 10 lacs as advance. The divorce case was filed before the Senior Civil Judge at Kundapur. But here, Jagadish stopped appearing to the court and is evading paying the remaining Rs 15 lacs.

Now Jagadish is not signing the papers and Sujatha is demanding for Rs 10 lacs from Amitha to make Jagadish sign. Amitha also alleges that Jagadish demanded Rs 5 lacs and her gold ornaments.

“We trusted his family blindly. I have led a lonely life and will fight to any extent to get relief from him,” she says.

Amitha has also approached Human Rights Protection Foundation (HRPF), Udupi, seeking justice.

“We will fight the case, till Amitha gets justice. This woman has bravely decided to fight legally. There are many women who have similar problems, but suffer quietly. I hope more women voice out against the violence they face,” said HRPF President Ravindranath Shanbhog.

District Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis and the Woman and Child Welfare officer have requested the court to order a stay against accused Jagadish, preventing him from leaving the country and pass an interim that Amitha be paid Rs 2,000 per month as maintenance, till the litigation is pending.