Should domestic violence cases be quashed after monetary settlement between parties? If so, doesn’t this send out a message that courts are open to encouraging legal extortion by women against their estranged husbands / ex-partners?
In a recent case reported from Mumbai, the Bombay High Court ordered actor Armaan Kohli to pay up Rs 50 lakh to his former girlfriend Neeru Randhawa or he would be sent to prison.
This is a 2018 alleged assault case where both parties had come to settlement terms, which apparently have not been honoured.
Case:
Neeru Randhawa, a fashion designer by profession, was in a relationship with Armaan Kohli from 2015-2018. Neeru was also Armaan’s stylist during the shooting of Salman Khan starrer Prem Ratan Dhan Payo but they kept their relationship under wraps.
On June 3, 2018, Neeru filed an FIR against Kohli alleging assault. In her complaint, she said that Kohli had pushed her down the stairs and banged her against the floor due to which she sustained grievous injuries and had to undergo 15 sutures.
After the FIR, Kohli was arrested. However, soon the ex-partners got into a mutual compromise and Kohli handed over a demand draft of Rs 50 lakh as a full and final settlement. Subsequently, Neeru withdrew her complaint and Kohli was released from jail.
Neeru Approaches High Court
Kohli’s ex-girlfriend Randhawa recently approached the high court, seeking a recall of a court order passed in 2018 in which the court had quashed the FIR registered by her and released Kohli from Arthur Road Prison.
Randhawa claimed that as a part of the settlement, she was to receive another Rs 50 lakh after the proceedings were over.
As per India Today report, two more cheques of Rs 50 lakhs were tendered by Kohli’s then lawyer which were signed by Kohli’s brother. However, these cheques were dishonoured and so Randhawa came back to court seeking that the case be resurrected against Kohli.
Last Tuesday, advocate Kushal Mor appearing for Randhawa took the high court through the 2018 judgement by which the FIR was quashed. Mor informed the bench that Kohli had in fact sent a notice to his own lawyer stating that the cheques were obtained by fraud and that he never intended to honour the cheques.
Arguments by Armaan Kohli
Advocate Tarak Sayyad appearing for Kohli said that the actor’s parents, who are in their 90s, needed their son. An affidavit by Kohli’s friend who vouched for the same was also pointed to.
Bombay High Court
The bench of Justices NW Sambre and RN Laddha told Kohli’s lawyer,
Either he pays, or we recall the order.
However, the court asked Sayyad to make sure that Kohli would take a decision on payment and convey the same to the court by July 18.
Voice For Men India Take:
- In the above matter, we are neither a mouth piece for Armaan Kohli nor pointing fingers at Neeru Randhawa
- The fundamental point we want to raise is about monetary settlements in domestic violence cases
- What if the accusations by Randhawa were all true and she did indeed suffer physical violence? Should courts permit withdrawal of cases after the woman has been paid off?
- What happens in cases where the allegations were only framed by the woman to extort money from her ex-partner?
- Voice For Men India always believes that if any man is found to be guilty of a crime, he must face the law
- However, law itself should not aid or promote ‘mutual settlements’ else the same loses its importance
- On the other hand, do we ever see women rights activists protesting against such ‘monetary settlement’ practices in heinous crimes such as alleged domestic violence?
- Is justice in India all about money?
DO WATCH:
Armaan Kohli Assault Case | Should Cases Be Quashed After Monetary Settlement? | Voice For Men India
Vijay Babu Pre-Arrest Bail Granted By Kerala HC | Discussion With Activist Mithun Vijay Kumar
LEAVE YOUR THOUGHTS BELOW:
#ArmaanKohli Alleged Domestic Violence Case | "Pay Rs 50 Lakh Or Go To Prison": Bombay HC
▪️ #NeeruRandhawa files FIR alleging DV, Kohli arrested
▪️Both compromise for mutual monetary settlement
▪️Kohli doesn't honour payment, Neeru approaches HC againhttps://t.co/3AOoOdDwe6— Voice For Men India (@voiceformenind) July 17, 2023
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