Pune Family Court Rejects Wife’s False Maintenance Claim, SIFF Calls for Legal Reforms
Pune, 23rd February 2025: The Pune Family Court has rejected a woman’s maintenance claim after evidence revealed her financial independence. The court ruled that maintenance is not meant for those who are capable of sustaining themselves, marking a significant victory for Ravi Singh, a software professional who faced years of legal battles against false allegations.
The case has been widely celebrated by the Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF), India’s largest men’s rights NGO, which supports men fighting false accusations under women-centric laws. SIFF hailed the ruling as a crucial step toward justice for men facing legal harassment in matrimonial disputes.
Originally from Jalandhar, Punjab, Ravi Singh is an engineer who worked in India and abroad. In 2016, he married a woman from Pune, and the couple moved to Europe. Ravi bore all expenses for his wife’s relocation, including her visa, travel, and living costs.
However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, tensions arose between Ravi’s wife and his family. In 2020, she filed a case in Pune with the assistance of a friend in the police, accusing him under various sections, including IPC 498A (dowry harassment), 354 (outraging modesty), 504 (intentional insult), 34 (common intention), 377 (unnatural offences), and SC/ST Atrocities Act.
Without prior notice, a Lookout Circular (LOC) was issued against Ravi. In February 2021, he was detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport, his passport was confiscated, and he was sent to Tihar Jail. His career suffered, as he lost employment opportunities in Germany.
Determined to prove his innocence, Ravi fought a prolonged legal battle. In December 2022, his wife filed domestic violence and divorce cases, demanding ₹80,000 monthly maintenance and ₹2 lakh in litigation expenses. She claimed to be unemployed, but Ravi presented evidence proving her professional background in IT and earnings from stock market investments.
On January 4, 2025, the Pune Family Court dismissed her maintenance claim, recognizing that she was financially capable of supporting herself.
