Hearing deferred to Oct 12 in Varsha-Anubhav case

Cuttack: The court of sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM), Cuttack, on Monday deferred for six weeks hearing on a complaint filed against Kendrapada MP Anubhav Mohanty’s wife actor Varsha Priyardarshini under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.
Though Varsha’s complaint was filed on August 7, the report of the district protection officer (DPO) was not available as per standard procedure when the matter came up for the first hearing before the SDJM.
The DPO’s report – recorded statement of the alleged victim (Varsha) is essential for issuing notice to the accused (Anubhav) in a complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.
Varsha’s counsel Ram Krushna Rath said, “The SDJM, Cuttack posted the matter to October 12 for hearing along with the DPO’s report”.
Varsha has alleged mental harassment and mental torture by her actor-turned-politician husband while seeking protection, maintenance and compensation. Their marriage was solemnised on February 8, 2014.
In her complaint Varsha has sought direction to Anubhav “to pay compensation and damage, right to residence in share household or pay Rs 20,000 per month for house/residence rent at her level in society, Rs 50,000 maintenance per month, compensation of Rs 13 crore and Rs 2 crore towards loss of earning and medical expenses”.
According to the complaint Varsha was “unable to lead a peaceful conjugal life. On many occasions she was allegedly subjected to mental and physical torture, abused in vulgar language, beaten with hand and sticks and kicked by her husband.
Both were living as husband and wife till December 2019, Varsha stated in her complaint, while claiming that though she “wanted to make a plan for the future generation, Anubhav simply avoided”. She further alleged that on June 11, 2020 Anubhav had openly asked her to give mutual divorce otherwise face the consequences.
Anubhav on July 16, 2020 filed a petition in a family court in New Delhi for dissolution of his marriage with Varsha solemnized on February 8, 2014 by a decree of divorce under Section 13 (i) (a) of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
The BJD MP has filed for divorce from his wife on grounds of cruelty. One of the contentions in the divorce petition filed by Anubhav is that the marriage between the two had not been consummated. According to the petition, Varsha has not been living with Anubhav since May 1, 2019. The divorce petition is scheduled for first hearing on October 7.
Meanwhile, Varsha has also filed before the family court, Cuttack, a petition for restitution of her conjugal rights under Section 9 of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. “The petition is scheduled for October 14. After completion of the proceeding we will move the Supreme Court for transfer of the divorce petition from the family court in New Delhi to the family court in Cuttack,” said Varsha’s counsel Ram Krushna Rath.
In a press release, Anubhav said: “My marriage has been in bad shape since long. I have tried my level best to reason, to explain, to understand, and to make amends; unfortunately, things did not shape up as expected. Hence, it seemed the best way to part ways amicably. I and my family sincerely tried our best for a mutual separation just because we were concerned about each other’s social image and dignity. Only after failing in this I had no other option left rather than filing for a divorce petition in Court of Law.”