The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Divorce through impersonation?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 04, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Divorce through impersonation?

By Our Staff Reporter

GUNTUR, OCT. 3. A 19-year-old married woman, K. Pratibha Rani, on Sunday alleged that she was given divorce from her husband, Polisetty Ramu, through impersonation in the Lok Adalat here in Guntur.

Complaint lodged

A complaint was lodged with the Superintendent of Police, Jitender, on Saturday alleging harassment by her mother-in-law, Sri Devi and husband.

Pratibha, daughter of a medical representative of Vijayawada, was married to Ramu, who on June 20, 2003, after his Bachelor's degree from the U.S. came back and settled in Guntur. She alleged that she was never allowed to go out of the massive house in Rajendra Nagar.

She alleged that from September last year her husband and mother-in-law were beating her repeatedly without reason. She said that her husband used to tour various cities for weeks together and did not do any business or job.

She was taken out of the city only once for house warming ceremony of their house in Chennai.

Divorce petition

In May this year a divorce petition was filed allegedly by obtaining her signatures and thumb impressions on the plea that a Passport was needed for her travel to the U.S. along with her husband.

They also opened an account in the local HDFC Bank in her name and got cheques signed, she alleged.

The Additional Senior Civil Judge passed a decree granting divorce to the petitioner and respondent, K. Pratibha Rani, and a sum of Rs. 3 lakhs was agreed to as compensation towards maintenance for the rest of the life.

She, however, alleged that she was not aware of the fact and she was sent to her parents' house in July this year. He husband had drawn the Rs. 3 lakhs maintenance amount also, her parents said.

Cheating case

When her parents and relatives questioned her father-in-law, Polisetty Hari Prasada Rao, about the reason for her being sent home he told them about the divorce granted, she and her relatives told the mediapersons on Sunday.

They got the copy of the decree from the court and now want the police to book her husband and mother-in-law for harassing and cheating her.

She said she had never appeared before the judge in the court. She does not want to go back to her house any more, but wants them to be punished.

The Guntur unit of the Lok Satta had provided her moral support for the past one month.

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