The Supreme Court on Friday transferred the divorce suit filed by Kendrapada MP and film actor Anubhav Mohanty to the Family Court, Cuttack from the Patiala House Court in New Delhi. The case was transferred on the basis of an application filed by Mohanty's estranged actress-wife Varsha Priyadarshini.
According to reports, the apex court directed the Cuttack Family Court to hear the case expeditiously after fixing a date. The estranged couple, who are leading film actors of Odisha, were also directed to appear before the Cuttack court on the designated date, reports said.
Married for over five years now and having no children, the couple is now staying separately under one roof since 2019. Last year, Mohanty filed a divorce suit in the New Delhi court stating that Varsha has failed to fulfil her duties as a wife and as a daughter-in-law to his old and ailing parents. After getting a notice from the Patiala House Court, Varsha had approached the Supreme Court seeking to transfer the case to Cuttack as it would be very difficult for her to attend the Delhi court.
The apex court had earlier stayed the hearing of the case in the New Delhi court following Varsha's plea. Notably, Varsha too has approached separate courts in Cutack seeking restitution of her conjugal life and alimony. The estranged couple has also made several allegations against each other at a police station here. On one occasion, Anubhav's mother too has made a police complaint against Varsha.