A man in Jharkhand attempted to escape alimony and child support payments by falsely claiming he was unemployed, but a Right to Information (RTI) request exposed his actual income, leading the High Court to order him to pay nearly ₹1 lakh per month, a report by the Indian Express revealed.
The Jharkhand High Court granted ₹90,000 per month in maintenance to the man's ex-wife and their son, who is autistic. This includes ₹50,000 for the wife and ₹40,000 for the child’s care and therapy needs.
An RTI query revealed that the man earned ₹27 lakh annually while working at an IT firm in Mumbai, directly contradicting the affidavit he had submitted in court claiming he was jobless.
The case
In 2023, the woman challenged a family court's earlier decision awarding her a one-time alimony of ₹12 lakh. She argued the amount was insufficient, especially given her son’s special needs and long-term therapy requirements.
She also alleged domestic abuse, dowry demands, including cash and an SUV, and abandonment. Her ex-husband later cut off contact and refused financial support.
While his affidavit stated he was unemployed, the RTI from the Income Tax Department proved he earned ₹2.3 lakh per month in 2023.
'A moral failure'
{{/usCountry}}While his affidavit stated he was unemployed, the RTI from the Income Tax Department proved he earned ₹2.3 lakh per month in 2023.
'A moral failure'
{{/usCountry}}The High Court criticised the lower court for accepting the man’s claim of unemployment without verification and acknowledged the full-time caregiving burden on the mother.
In its remarks, the court stated: “Desertion of wife is one thing, but desertion of an autistic child is not only a moral failure but a legal default.”