Producer ordered to give alimony

NEW DELHI: A man has been directed to pay a monthly alimony of Rs 33,000 to his estranged wife by a trial court, which assessed his “humongous” income from the fact that he was being treated by a renowned doctor who also treats the President of India.
The man, a TV serial producer-cum-director, had opposed his wife’s plea for maintenance contending that he is suffering from various ailments including liver cancer, hernia and thyroid and is unable to work since 2003.His argument, however, backfired when the court noted from the doctor’s prescription, submitted by him, that he was being treated by Dr Harsh Mahajan, the honorary radiologist to the President.
Noting that getting his treatment done by a renowned doctor indicated his “financial status”, the court said, “It is further pertinent to mention that the prescription is dated March 14, 2009 on which date the respondent has alleged that he was not working. When he was not working, how can he approach such a renowned doctor for his diagnosis.”
“It is difficult to understand as to from where the respondent has collected so much of funds so as to get such an expensive treatment and that too from a private centre and such a reputed doctor,” metropolitan magistrate Vandana Jain added.
The court said “from the pleadings it cannot be denied that he must be earning humongous amount so as to arrange funds for getting his treatment done”.
“In these circumstances and keeping in view the status as well as the nature of work, he was doing earlier after deducting the medical expenses which he must be incurring from his income is assessed to be Rs 1 lakh per month. “Respondent is directed to pay Rs 33,000 per month to the complainant from the date of filing the present petition till its disposal,” the court said.
The woman had moved the court seeking Rs 50,000 as maintenance contending that he is “a man of means” and is “financially well off”. She had contended that her husband was the owner of a firm involved in production of films, telefilms, telealbums, etc. She alleged that her estranged husband was earning a good amount from various properties he owned in Delhi and J&K.
The plea was opposed by the man on the ground that he was suffering from various disease and “is not competent to do any work” and hence was not earning anything.