A Mumbai doctor who spent years sidestepping court orders to support his wife and children has finally run out of excuses. The Bombay High Court sentenced him to six months in civil prison, calling out his blatant defiance of the law and disregard for his family’s well-being.
The ruling came after the doctor, locked in a legal battle with his wife since 2009, repeatedly ignored directives to pay ₹35,000 per month in maintenance. Despite multiple court orders—including one upheld by the Supreme Court—he found ways to stall, evade, and delay, forcing his wife to file a contempt petition in 2019.
A bench of Justices GS Kulkarni and Advait M Sethna didn’t mince words, condemning the man’s tactics and his indifference toward his wife and daughters.
“The contemnor has no respect for the rule of law,” the Court declared. “He has no regard for the orders passed by this Court.”
The doctor’s methods to escape responsibility were extensive—avoiding legal notices, dodging bailiffs, and filing appeals that were systematically dismissed. Even when the Court issued bailable warrants and ordered him to appear in person, he refused to comply.
“The contemnor appears to be quite habitual and well-versed in avoiding the process of law,” the Court remarked, emphasizing that his actions had left his family struggling for six years.
His legal team argued that the maintenance amount was excessive, but the Court wasn’t convinced. Every attempt to challenge the order had failed, and by this point, the justices saw his refusal as outright defiance rather than financial hardship.
With patience exhausted, the Court took decisive action, ordering his immediate surrender at the High Court Police Station. His six-month sentence serves as a warning—there’s only so long one can dodge justice before it catches up.
