The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Delhi High Court has granted divorce to renowned celebrity chef Kunal Kapur on the grounds of cruelty inflicted upon him by his estranged wife. The court deemed the woman’s behavior towards him as lacking in dignity and empathy.
Kapur’s appeal, contesting a family court’s decision to deny him a divorce, was upheld by the high court. It emphasized that reckless, defamatory, humiliating, and unsubstantiated allegations made against a spouse in public constitute cruelty under established legal principles.
The bench comprising Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Neena Bansal Krishna stated, “The conduct of the respondent (wife) towards the appellant (husband) has been such that it lacks dignity and empathy towards him. When one spouse treats the other in this manner, it tarnishes the essence of marriage, and there is no justification for subjecting him to the agony of continued cohabitation.”
The couple tied the knot in April 2008 and welcomed a son in 2012.
In his plea, Kapur, known for his role as a judge on the television show “Master Chef,” accused his wife of disrespecting his parents and humiliating him. Conversely, the wife alleged that Kapur fabricated false stories to obtain a divorce and asserted her loyalty and attempts to maintain loving communication.
While acknowledging that disagreements are commonplace in marriages, the court underscored that when conflicts escalate to disrespect and disregard for a spouse, the sanctity of marriage is compromised.
The court also noted Kapur’s rise to fame as a celebrity chef within two years of marriage, attributing it to his hard work and determination. It dismissed the wife’s accusations as attempts to tarnish Kapur’s reputation and affirmed that such baseless claims constitute cruelty.
The decision by the Delhi High Court marks the culmination of a legal battle that sheds light on the complexities and challenges of marital relationships in contemporary society.
