In a major setback for NCP leader and Maharashtra’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde, the Bandra Family Court has ordered him to pay Rs 2 lakh per month as interim maintenance to his live-in partner Karuna Sharma. The ruling comes as he faces mounting pressure to resign over the murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh from Beed district.
The court passed the order on Sharma’s petition under the Domestic Violence Act in which she sought Rs 15 lakh in monthly maintenance from Munde, who had earlier admitted to a past live-in relationship with her and acknowledged their children, which was the basis for the ruling.
As Munde was recuperating from eye surgery, his lawyer Sayali Sawant issued a press note clarifying the order. “The court’s directive is only for interim maintenance on financial grounds. It doesn’t mean any adverse finding against my client on the allegations of violence. The order was passed solely on the needs of the applicants,” the statement said.
The relevant portion of the court order reads, “Considering the basic needs of Applicant No 1 and No 3, their income and the lifestyle of the respondent, I am of the opinion that they are entitled to maintenance under Section 20 of the Domestic Violence Act. Therefore, an interim maintenance amount of Rs 1,25,000 per month to Applicant No 1 and Rs 75,000 per month to Applicant No 3 from the Respondent is sufficient.”
Reacting to the verdict, an emotional Sharma welcomed the order but was dissatisfied with the amount. “I don’t accept this verdict. I will appeal to the Bombay High Court seeking Rs 15 lakh per month. My house rent is Rs 1.70 lakh and maintenance is only Rs 30,000. My son is unemployed. How can I manage with Rs 2 lakh? I have been fighting this battle alone for three years, even selling my jewelry to survive,” she said.
Sharma also claimed victory in getting recognition as Munde’s wife. “I should no longer be called Karuna Sharma but Karuna Dhananjay Munde. The court has given me the status of the first wife and my fight for the Munde name has been successful,” she said.Karuna Sharma also said she will claim Munde’s assets. “I will fight for all of Dhananjay Munde’s property which is illegally registered in the name of his second wife Rajshree. I was not informed when he remarried. I was in Indore at that time,” she said.
In a shocking statement, Sharma accused Walmik Karad, a close associate of Dhananjay Munde who is in jail for the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, of assaulting her. “Karad had beaten me and touched me inappropriately,” she said.
Sharma also spoke about the emotional fallout of her fight. “I have had suicidal thoughts. My mother committed suicide but when I think of her I stop myself. If she were alive I wouldn’t have to fight alone,” she said.
