Latest news with #Sonika
Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Indian Express
Ghaziabad interfaith couple: As family again alleges woman kidnapped, she says ‘left house as per my wish'
Nearly two months after the father of a 25-year-old woman in Ghaziabad accused her in-laws of kidnapping her, only for the daughter to claim that she has entered into an interfaith marriage by choice, her family filed a complaint at the Indirapuram police station on Wednesday, alleging that she has been kidnapped again. Minutes later, a purported video surfaced in which the woman, Sonika Chauhan, claimed that she had left her home on Wednesday to be with her husband, Akbar Khan (29). She also named some people who allegedly tortured her and wanted her to frame Akbar. Sonika, meanwhile, on Wednesday wrote to the Ghaziabad district magistrate seeking police protection, police said. 'I, Sonika, on July 30, around 2 pm, left my house as per my wish… Since last two months, my parents and some other people, including Meena Bhandari, Harish Karakoti, Kapil Tyagi, my maternal uncle Vikram Rawat and my paternal uncle Jagdish Singh Chauhan, had been torturing me physically and mentally… they wanted me to give a statement against Akbar in court and frame him under POCSO (Act) and put him behind bars. But I protested… I will only tell the truth,' she is heard saying in the video. Speaking to The Indian Express, DCP (Trans-Hindon) Patil Nimish Dasharath said the family has filed a complaint and soon an FIR will be registered in the case. The investigating officer of the case, added that the family, in the complaint, has alleged that Akbar entered their house, abducted their daughter and stole Rs 50,000 in cash and jewellery. The matter had first come to light on May 25, when Sonika's father, Laxman Singh Chauhan, filed a complaint with the Indirapuram police station, accusing Akbar of kidnapping Sonika. The Ghazibad Police had then raided Akbar's home in the Nyay Khand area of Indirapuram and 'handed over' Sonika to her parents. Following this, the police had arrested Akbar, his two sisters, sister-in-law, and a neighbour. A group of around 60 men had also attacked Akbar's shop and vandalised it. A purported video had surfaced before Akbar's arrest, in which Sonika could be heard saying that she wanted to stay with him and that they had secretly gotten married at a Delhi SDM office under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 in August 2022. They, however, did not immediately start staying together. In Wednesday's video, Sonika is heard saying that she had recorded her statement before the magistrate. 'Since my statements were not in accordance with what my family wanted me to say… they started threatening me,' she said. 'I had said before the magistrate that I wanted to stay with my family… thinking that both the families would live peacefully. But now they are forcing me to give another statement against Akbar…,' she said, adding that she does not want to stay with her family anymore. Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express. She covers crime, health, environment as well as stories of human interest, in Noida, Ghaziabad and western UP. When not on the field she is probably working on another story idea. On weekends, she loves to read fiction over a cup of coffee. The Thursday Murder club, Yellow Face and Before the Coffee Gets Cold were her recent favourites. She loves her garden as much as she loves her job. She is an alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
23-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Delhi court allows widow to stay in matrimonial home years after in-laws threw her out
Delhi's Karkardooma court has recently, in a Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act case, granted liberty to a widow to reside in the matrimonial home along with her minor child. This house was shared by the in-laws and the woman along with her husband when he was alive. Judicial Magistrate of First Class (JMFC-Mahila Court) Sonika on July 19, 2025, granted liberty to the complainant woman to reside in the matrimonial shared household along with her minor child.(Pexel/Representative) She was allegedly thrown out of the matrimonial house in 2018. Her husband expired in November 2015. She alleged physical assault and demand for dowry by the in-laws. Judicial Magistrate of First Class (JMFC-Mahila Court) Sonika on July 19, 2025, granted liberty to the complainant woman to reside in the matrimonial shared household along with her minor child. The court ordered, "Thus, the petitioner is at liberty to reside alongwith her minor child in the aforesaid shared household and the respondents are hereby restrained from dispossessing the petitioner without due process of law." However, the court has declined to grant maintenance from her in-laws in the absence of any property or business jointly owned by her husband and other in-laws. While dealing with the issue of maintenance, the court observed that the petitioner had not placed any document to show that any of the respondents had any joint property/business with the deceased husband of the complainant. "In the absence of any joint/coparcenary property, the respondents cannot be burdened with the liability to maintain the petitioner," JMFC said in the order passed on July 19. The court also noted that the prayer of maintenance was not preferred in the application for residence. Advocate Manish Bhadauria, counsel for the complainant, submitted that in August 2018, the respondents threw the petitioner out of the shared household in wearing clothes. "Thus, it is prayed that the present application be allowed and the petitioner be granted the relief of maintenance and residence," counsel prayed. On the other hand, advocate Praveen Goswami, counsel for respondents, submitted that no cruelty was ever committed by respondents. It was further submitted that the petitioner had not specified any date or time when she was harassed by any of the respondents, and the allegations levelled in the petition as well as the present application are omnibus and general in nature.
NDTV
23-07-2025
- NDTV
'Can Stay In Matrimonial Home': Court Relief For Widow Thrown Out By In-Laws
New Delhi: Delhi's Karkardooma court has recently, in a Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act case, granted liberty to a widow to reside in the matrimonial home along with her minor child. This house was shared by the in-laws and the woman, along with her husband when he was alive. She was allegedly thrown out of the matrimonial house in 2018, nearly three years after her husband died in November 2015. She alleged physical assault and demand for dowry by the in-laws. Judicial Magistrate of First Class (JMFC-Mahila Court) Sonika on July 19, 2025, granted liberty to the complainant woman to reside in the matrimonial shared household along with her minor child. The court ordered, "Thus, the petitioner is at liberty to reside along with her minor child in the aforesaid shared household and the respondents are hereby restrained from dispossessing the petitioner without due process of law." However, the court has declined to grant maintenance from her in-laws in the absence of any property or business jointly owned by her husband and other in-laws. While dealing with the issue of maintenance, the court observed that the petitioner had not placed any document to show that any of the respondents had any joint property/business with the husband of the complainant. "In the absence of any joint/coparcenary property, the respondents cannot be burdened with the liability to maintain the petitioner," JMFC said in the order passed on July 19. The court also noted that the prayer of maintenance was not preferred in the application for residence. Advocate Manish Bhadauria, counsel for the complainant, submitted that in August 2018, the respondents threw the petitioner out of the shared household. "Thus, it is prayed that the present application be allowed and the petitioner be granted the relief of maintenance and residence," counsel prayed. On the other hand, advocate Praveen Goswami, counsel for respondents, submitted that no cruelty was ever committed by respondents. It was further submitted that the petitioner had not specified any date or time when she was harassed by any of the respondents, and the allegations levelled in the petition as well as the present application, are general in nature.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Marital dispute cases: Court makes clear real meaning of stridhan
A recent ruling by a Delhi court has highlighted the complexities surrounding the concept of stridhan , or a woman's property, during marital disputes . The court dismissed a woman's plea for the return of various articles, including a car, stating that not all items given at the time of marriage qualify as stridhan. This decision comes from the application filed under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act. Stridhan pertains to assets, either movable or immovable, received by a woman before marriage, during marriage, or at childbirth. The court's ruling, delivered by Judicial Magistrate Sonika on July 12, emphasised that the assertion that all articles listed by the woman were her stridhan lacked sufficient evidence. The court noted that there was no prima facie proof, such as receipts, photographs, or witness affidavits, to establish ownership of the items in question. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Leadership Design Thinking Digital Marketing Data Science PGDM Public Policy Project Management Data Science Degree Others others MCA Technology Data Analytics Product Management Management CXO Finance MBA Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK EPIS Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Accounting & Analysis Financial Instruments & Markets Corporate Finance & Valuation Investment Management & Banking Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode IIMK Professional Certificate in Financial Analysis and Financial Management Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Indore Executive Programme in Business Management Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Opportunities & Outlining Plans to use AI & ML Applying Data-Driven Business Innovation Best Practices Changing Culture to Integrate AI-Enabled Technologies Ethics, Privacy and Regulations in AI & ML Duration: 20 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Leadership in AI Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Critical Thinking & Decision-Making Skills Power of Emerging Technologies Innovation and Drive Organizational Change Fostering a Culture of Innovation Duration: 9 Months MIT xPRO MIT Technology Leadership and Innovation Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK-Women Leadership Programme INDIA Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK CEO Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking & Planning Competitive Advantage & Market Positioning Strategic Leadership & Decision-Making Change Management & Organizational Transformation Duration: 1 Year IIM Kozhikode IIMK Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Senior Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 22 Weeks Indian School of Business SEPO - ISB Venture Capital & Private Equity India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML SLP India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 18 Weeks 109820388 Strategic Marketing for Leaders: Leveraging AI for Growth Starts on undefined Get Details The ruling pointed out that while some articles may indeed be classified as stridhan, others could simply fall into the category of gifts. This distinction is crucial, as it affects the legal standing of claims made during disputes. The court stressed that the trial had not yet commenced, and therefore, a decision regarding the return of these items could not be made based on an unverified list. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like When the Camera Clicked at the Worst Possible Time Read More In dismissing the woman's application, the court indicated that she could pursue her claim for the return of her articles at a later stage, provided she presents adequate evidence to support her assertions. This case sheds light on the importance of proper documentation and proof when claiming ownership of assets in marital disputes. As the legal landscape continues to evolve, this ruling serves as a reminder for individuals to maintain clear records of assets received, especially in the context of marriage. The decision highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of property rights and the significance of evidence in legal matters. Live Events
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Business Standard
21-07-2025
- Business Standard
All marriage-time gifts not necessarily stridhan, says Delhi court
A Delhi court has said every article given at the time of marriage cannot be called stridhan (woman's property) and dismissed a woman's plea seeking return of her articles, including a car. Judicial magistrate Sonika was hearing an application filed by the woman under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act. Stridhan is movable or immovable assets, received during the lifetime, by a woman either prior to marriage or at the time of marriage or at childbirth. In an order on July 12, the court held, "Upon perusal of the record, including the documents annexed with the present application, at this stage, it cannot be concluded that all the articles, including the car, as mentioned in the list of dowry articles annexed with the present application were given as the stridhan articles of the petitioner." It said there was no prima facie evidence, such as bills, photographs, or affidavits of witnesses, to prove the ownership. The order added, "Moreover, each and every article given at the time of marriage cannot be termed as stridhan of the petitioner, as some of the articles are bound to fall within the category of gift." The court further said when the trial was yet to start in the matter, the order for returning stridhan articles could not be passed on an unverified list, especially during the pending dispute over the ownership. Dismissing the woman's plea, the court said she could seek the relief at the time of final adjudication, subject to leading proper evidence in support of her claims.
