Win for Shikhar Dhawan as Delhi court flags coercion, trickery by ex-wife; orders her to return ₹5.7 crore

A family court in Delhi has directed cricketer Shikhar Dhawan’s ex-wife to return approximately AU$894,397 (₹5.7 crore) she had received from the cricketer as part of an interim property settlement from the sale of an Australian property. .Judge Devender Kumar Garg of the Patiala House Court said that all documents executed by Dhawan which culminated in the financial settlement with his ex-wife were null and void as they were executed by him under threats, extortion, trickery and fraudulent action. The Court also directed Dhawan’s wife to pay interest of 9 percent per annum on the amount since the time Dhawan instituted the suit. The Court ruled that the Australian court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the marital disputes between Dhawan and his ex-wife.Further, the Court restrained Dhawan's ex-wife from enforcing the anti-suit injunction granted by the Australian court and the order of February 2, 2024. Through this order, the court in Australia had divided the parties’ global asset pool, including Dhawan's properties and financial assets in India. The wife was awarded an additional 15% of the tangible asset pool. Besides retaining assets worth AU$1.17 million, she was granted a further AU$2.5 million payable by Dhawan. The court had also directed transfer of a property to the wife and provided for consequences in case of non-compliance. .The couple married in 2012, and according to Dhawan, shortly after the marriage, his wife started threatening him that she would circulate “fabricated, defamatory and false” material against him and destroy his reputation and cricket career. He told the Court that he bought properties with his money, but his wife compelled him to register the assets in their joint name. The wife was named as 99% owner of one of the properties he bought, the Court was told. Between 2021 and 2024, the Australian court passed several orders regarding the division of properties between the parties.However, Dhawan argued that the sum of money computed by the Australian court was contrary to the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act and the Indian law. He also sought a declaration that he is not bound by the orders passed by the Australian court..After considering the case, the family court agreed with Dhawan’s arguments and held that he is not bound by the Australian court’s order..Senior Advocate Aman Hingorani with advocates Shweta Hingorani and Yukta Chauhan represented Shikhar Dhawan. .Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.