The couple have worked together in multiple Odia films even after their marriage in 2014. (Facebook/Anubhav Mohanty)Odia film actor Varsha Priyadarshini has moved court against her husband, actor-turned-MP Anubhav Mohanty accusing him of physical and mental torture.
Mohanty is the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD)’s deputy chief whip in the Lok Sabha and a national spokesperson for the party. The couple got married in 2014 and have acted in several films together even after marriage.
Mohanty has denied receiving any legal notice in the matter. “I have not received any notice in the matter, so I can not comment,” he told The Indian Express.
In her petition, filed on August 31 before the Sub Divisional Magistrate of Cuttack under section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, Priyadarshini alleged that her husband used to hit her while in an inebriated state. She added that he abused her after getting drunk and behaved like an “uncivilised person”. She further said that Mohanty and his family members did not allow her to continue acting in films and tried to keep her home-bound.
She has urged the court to direct Mohanty to pay compensation and damages for the loss of her income, medical expenses, rent and monthly maintenance totalling Rs 15 crore. The hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday.
Mohanty on the other hand, had filed a petition for dissolution of marriage against Priyadarshini in a family court in Delhi on July 17 in which he said she did not agree to a mutual divorce. Priyadarshini has also filed a separate petition under section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act for restitution of conjugal rights. The hearing in that case in scheduled for October 7.
Priyadarshini cited several recent instances in her petition before the Cuttack SDM: “After coming back from Delhi, my husband became violent and shouted at me. On June 7, my husband and his father rebuked me in filthy language for two hours. On June 11, my husband asked me to agree for mutual divorce and threatened me with dire consequences if I did not agree.” She has also accused him of being “a womaniser”.