The case revolved around allegations of defamatory emails and chats that the ex-wife had purportedly sent, targeting her ex-husband.
NEW DELHI: The Saket Court in Delhi has ruled in favor of a man who filed a defamation case against his ex-wife, directing her to pay ₹15 lakh in damages.
The case centered on allegations that the woman had sent defamatory emails and messages targeting her ex-husband.
Married since 2001, the couple’s relationship deteriorated over time, with the wife leaving the matrimonial home in 2009 along with their minor daughter. The husband claimed that, since then, his ex-wife had pursued a series of baseless and malicious legal actions while making defamatory allegations against him and his family.
He also alleged that his ex-wife had barred him from meeting their daughter and used abusive language against him and his mother in emails and chats with her friends. Their marriage was dissolved in 2021 on grounds of cruelty under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, but the defamation reportedly persisted, including emails sent to the husband’s employer and his ailing maternal uncle.
The husband further claimed that the continuous harassment took a toll on his health, leading to major surgery in March 2022, which cost him ₹6 lakh. The ex-wife denied the allegations, asserting that the defamation case was a malicious attempt to target her. However, the court found her defense to be inconsistent and contradictory.
Judge Sunil Beniwal found the ex-wife guilty of defamation and ordered her to pay ₹15 lakh in damages, along with 9% interest from the date the suit was filed. “The case records clearly show that the defendant engaged in defamatory acts through libel,” stated the court.
The order further noted, “The emails submitted by the plaintiff have been properly substantiated with an electronic evidence affidavit and remain uncontested. The defendant has not disputed the authenticity of these emails.”