The validity of the parents’ relationship may be questioned, but children cannot be left abandoned on the streets. The Indore Family Court made strong observations against a man who misrepresented his identity and maintained a relationship on false pretences for over a decade, before allegedly abandoning responsibility when accountability arose. Judge AK Goyal directed the accused father to pay ₹1 lakh per month as maintenance for his two children. The court also ordered payment of ₹25 lakh in arrears. According to the case details, the man had married a Muslim woman after concealing his identity. After living together for several years, he allegedly deserted his wife and children. The woman subsequently pursued a prolonged legal battle for custody and maintenance, and the court has now granted relief in her favour. Foundation of deceit: The journey from ‘Atul’ to ‘Ali’ This story began in 2011 at a grocery store in Ujjain. There, 33-year-old Samreen Mansuri (name changed) met Atul Panwar. Atul, a resident of Sethi Nagar in Ujjain, hid his real identity and introduced himself as ‘Ali’ and claimed to be Muslim. What started with an exchange of mobile numbers soon turned into a romantic relationship. Atul lured Samreen with the promise of marriage. When her family started looking for a match elsewhere, he stopped Samreen by assuring her of nikah (Islamic marriage). Live-in relationship in Indore and the trauma of 3 abortions Atul brought Samreen to Indore, where they started living like husband and wife in a flat in Vijay Nagar. In their relationship of about 12 years, Samreen gave birth to two children – a 6-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son. During this time, she also had to endure physical and mental torture. According to Advocate KP Maheshwari, Atul made Samreen undergo abortion three times. On the medical documents, he had signed describing himself as ‘husband’. Due to repeated abortions, Samreen’s health deteriorated. Later, Atul left her and the children and went away. ‘Cheap’ argument in court: Not wife but ‘mistress’ When the case reached court, the layers of Atul Panwar’s influence and reality were unveiled. He is the owner of ‘Atul Infrastructure’ and develops large colonies like ‘Swastik Vihar’. The judge termed his arguments given to save himself as ‘indecent’. Atul argued that he is a Hindu and his first wife and children are alive, therefore under Hindu law Samreen cannot be given the status of wife. He even called Samreen a ‘mistress’. The court expressed strong displeasure at this argument. ‘Confession’ in High Court, ‘Deception’ in Family Court Atul’s double face was exposed in this case when it was revealed that Samreen had filed an FIR against him for rape (Section 376) at Vijay Nagar police station. To avoid arrest, Atul filed a bail petition in the High Court and admitted that Samreen was his wife and both children were his. Based on this admission, he was granted bail. However, when it came to maintenance in the Family Court, he went back on his statement. Empire worth crores and education abroad When the court analyzed Atul’s financial status, his luxurious lifestyle was exposed. ‘Milestone’ for victim women According to Advocate KP Maheshwari, this decision is a ray of hope for those women who are unable to fight legal battles against influential people due to economic and social pressure. Samreen, who was left helpless about five years ago, did not give up and finally secured the rights of her children. Post navigation 7-year-old girl murdered, body found in pit in Morena:Arms tied; child who had come for wedding with father went missing at night BJP sacks newly appointed Kisan Morcha president:Loses post within 18 days; first action after ‘save fuel’ appeal
