In Mumbai, a 39-year-old doctor has filed a police complaint against her mother-in-law, Vidya Chavan, a former NCP (SP) MLA, and her brother-in-law, Anand Chavan, accusing them of forcibly taking her 9-year-old daughter and physically assaulting her. This complaint, filed at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) police station, comes a day after the doctor’s husband, Abhishek Chavan, 40, lodged a complaint against her, marking the latest development in a complex domestic dispute.
According to the doctor’s First Information Report (FIR), she married Abhishek Chavan in 2010, and they separated nine years later. The family court granted her custody of their daughter in February 2003. However, she claims her husband took their daughter forcibly, defying the court order. Abhishek Chavan contends that he had custody of the child from February 9 until May 9, 2023.
The situation escalated on May 9, when the family court ordered Abhishek Chavan to return the child to her mother. The doctor alleges that while her husband initially resisted the court’s directive, he eventually left their daughter at the court. Soon after, Vidya Chavan and Anand Chavan allegedly arrived at the court, forcibly taking the child for nearly an hour before returning her. During this incident, the doctor claims she was physically assaulted and her father was threatened by Anand Chavan.
In his defense, Abhishek Chavan alleges that their daughter resisted returning to her mother, which led to her mother slapping the child on her legs and stomach. He states that this incident resulted in the child experiencing difficulty talking and walking, prompting him to take her to Sion Hospital for treatment. Following this, he filed a case against his separated wife.
Abhishek Chavan’s complaint, registered on May 10 at the BKC police station, accuses his wife of offenses under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 341 (wrongful restraint) of the Indian Penal Code, along with section 75 (cruelty to child) of the Juvenile Justice Act. Conversely, the doctor’s FIR, filed on May 11, includes accusations against Vidya Chavan and Anand Chavan under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 34 (common intention), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The allegations have intensified the already strained relations between the two parties. The doctor maintains that the custody battle has been fraught with violence and pressure, citing the recent physical assault and threats made by her in-laws. On the other hand, Abhishek Chavan portrays his actions as protective, responding to what he claims was abusive behavior by his separated wife towards their daughter. The BKC police station is handling both FIRs, mirroring the conflicting allegations.
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)