In Brief
A husband filed for divorce after his wife made false and defamatory allegations against him and his family to newspapers, women's commissions, and police—claims the police investigation found baseless and self-serving. The trial court and High Court denied his divorce petition, stating no cruelty was proven. The Supreme Court reversed these decisions, holding that filing patently false criminal complaints and making reckless, defamatory accusations against a spouse constitutes mental cruelty under the Hindu Marriage Act. The Court granted the divorce and awarded the wife permanent alimony of Rs. 50 lakhs and a residential flat worth up to Rs. 1 crore to ensure her financial security and housing needs.
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