In a significant legal development, a family court in Delhi has granted a divorce to renowned cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, citing allegations of mental cruelty by his estranged wife, Aesha Mukerji, in the case titled “Shikhar Dhawan vs Aesha Dhawan.”
Judge Harish Kumar, presiding over the case, upheld all the claims made by Shikhar Dhawan in his divorce petition against his wife. The court’s decision was based on the fact that Aesha either chose not to contest these allegations or failed to provide a defense.
The judge found that Aesha had inflicted mental anguish upon Dhawan by compelling him to live separately from their only son for an extended period. While the court refrained from making a permanent custody order for their son, it granted visitation rights to Dhawan, allowing him to meet his son in both India and Australia for an appropriate duration. The court also permitted video calls to maintain their relationship.
Additionally, the court ordered Aesha to bring their child to India for visitation purposes, including overnight stays with Dhawan and his family members, for at least half the period of school vacations during the academic calendar.
Recognizing Shikhar Dhawan’s status as a reputed international cricketer and a source of pride for the nation, the court requested the Union Government of India to engage with its Australian counterpart regarding visitation and custody arrangements, aiming to facilitate regular interaction between Dhawan and his son or even exploring the possibility of permanent custody.
Shikhar Dhawan’s petition detailed how his wife had initially agreed to live with him in India but was unable to do so due to commitments to her ex-husband, with whom she has two daughters. Aesha had made a commitment to remain in Australia, where she currently resides with her two daughters and a son from her marriage to Dhawan.
The judge noted that despite Aesha’s denial of these allegations, she did not contest the claims, stating that her commitment to her daughters from her previous marriage prevented her from relocating to India. This led to a long-distance marriage and caused Shikhar Dhawan significant emotional distress, according to the court.
Furthermore, the court considered Dhawan’s assertion that Aesha coerced him into making her the owner of 99 percent of three properties in Australia, which he had purchased with his own funds. She also demanded joint ownership of two other properties. Since Aesha did not contest these claims, the court accepted Dhawan’s allegations as true.
Regarding allegations that Aesha sent defamatory messages to cricket board authorities, IPL team owners, and fellow cricketers, she argued that she did so to ensure timely monthly maintenance payments from Dhawan, who had been delaying them. However, the court rejected her defense, finding that she had sent defamatory messages to multiple individuals with the intent to pressure, defame, and humiliate Dhawan.
The court also upheld Dhawan’s claim that Aesha had quarreled with him when he took time off to care for his ailing father during his battle with COVID-19. Additionally, it noted Aesha’s demand for significant financial support for her daughters while they remained in Australia, with Dhawan having to increase the payments over time to meet her demands.
This divorce case highlights the legal proceedings and findings surrounding the high-profile marriage of cricketer Shikhar Dhawan and Aesha Mukerji.
