Archive · 13 Nov 2025
Bombay HC Increases Divorced Wife's Maintenance Sevenfold to Rs 3.5 Lakhs
A woman got divorced, and her ex-husband was ordered to pay her money each month to help her live.
The first amount he had to pay was $50,000 a month.
But the wife told the court that this wasn't enough, especially for their daughter.
She also said her ex-husband was pretending to be poor, even though he was very rich.
The judge looked into it and agreed with the wife.
The judge said the husband was lying about how much money he made and that $50,000 was way too little.
So, the judge decided to increase the monthly payment seven times, to $350,000 a month.
This is to help the wife and daughter live a better life and for the daughter's education.
The judge also said the husband needed to pay for the past 12 months, which was $4.2 million.
The Bombay High Court increased a divorced wife's monthly maintenance from Rs 50,000 to Rs 3.5 lakh.
The court found the husband's claim of earning only Rs 6 lakh annually and living in poverty to be 'farcical'.
The husband was ordered to deposit Rs 42 lakh within four weeks, covering 12 months of the increased maintenance.
The court considered factors like inflation and the daughter's need for resources for a good professional education.
The husband had allegedly suppressed his financial strength, with his family businesses reportedly having over Rs 100 crore in the bank.
- Who
- Bombay High Court, a divorced wife, and her estranged husband (a businessman)
- What
- The Bombay High Court increased the monthly maintenance payable by a businessman to his divorced wife from Rs 50,000 to Rs 3.5 lakh per month, finding that the husband had hidden his true income and assets.
- When
- Monday, November 10
- Where
- Bombay High Court
- Why
- The court found the husband's claims of poverty to be 'farcical,' citing evidence of his significant family wealth and business involvement, and recognized the wife's need for adequate funds for herself and their daughter's education and standard of living.
Divorced Wife
Estranged Husband
Claimed Income and Lifestyle
Divorced Wife
Argued that her ex-husband's claim of earning only Rs 6 lakh a year and living a life of penury was 'farcical' and that he had suppressed his financial strength.
Estranged Husband
Claimed to earn only Rs 6 lakh a year and live a life of penury, and opposed an increase in maintenance, suggesting his daughter cut down on expenses like yoga and violin classes.
Adequacy of Maintenance Award
Divorced Wife
Contended that the interim maintenance of Rs 50,000 per month was 'miniscule' and insufficient for her and their daughter's decent standard of living and education.
Estranged Husband
Maintained that the permanent alimony of Rs 50,000 per month was adequate and opposed any enhancement.
- Court
- Bombay High Court
- Previous Maintenance Amount
- Rs 50,000 per month
- Increased Maintenance Amount
- Rs 3.5 lakh per month
- Amount to be Deposited for 12 Months
- Rs 42 lakhs
- Husband's Alleged Annual Income
- Rs 6 lakh
- Husband's Estimated Share in Family Bank
- Over Rs 100 crore
- Marriage Year
- 1997
- Separation Year
- 2013
