A marriage spanning over two and a half decades has reportedly reached a legal crossroads, with Sangeeta Surnalingam filing for divorce from actor-turned-politician Vijay.
According to reports, the petition was filed under the provisions of the Special Marriage Act, 1954, which allows divorce on grounds including adultery and cruelty.
In the petition, Sangeeta alleged that Vijay was involved in an extramarital affair with an actress. It stated that she discovered in 2021 that “he was involved in an adulterous relationship with an actress.” The petition also claims that even though Vijay assured her that the relationship would end, she continued without any sign of remorse.
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Here are the most important points:
• Vijay’s wife, Sangeetha, filed for divorce in the Chengalpattu family court.
• The couple registered their marriage in the UK on July 10, 1998, as Sangeetha is a British citizen, and later had a ceremonial wedding in Chennai on August 25, 1999, according to a report by Live Law.
In her petition, Sangeetha alleged that Vijay was in an adulterous relationship with an actress since April 2021, the report added.
• She claimed that the alleged affair caused her severe emotional distress and mental anguish, and amounted to a betrayal of marital trust. Although Vijay initially assured her that he would end the relationship, she alleged that it continued, leading to long-term mental cruelty.
• Sangeetha stated that she tried to reconcile and delayed legal proceedings considering the children’s education and emotional well-being.
• She claimed that Vijay neglected her emotionally, mentally and physically and withdrew from marital relations. The divorce was sought under Section 27(1)(a), (b) and (d) of the Special Marriage Act.
• The petition alleged that Vijay traveled abroad with the actress, who shared pictures of their travels on social media, causing humiliation and suffering to Sangeetha and their children.
• She stated that she tried to resolve the matter privately and exchanged legal notices through her lawyer before going to court, according to a Live Law report.
• In addition to the dissolution of the marriage, she requested the right to reside in the matrimonial home and permanent maintenance commensurate with Vijay’s income and social status.
Given the sensitivity of the case and the public profile of the parties, it requested confidential proceedings and a temporary injunction restricting media coverage of the matter, the report said.
