BMW, Flat, ₹12 Crore Alimony? Supreme Court To Woman: ‘Kamao Aur Khao’

The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on a woman demanding extravagant alimony from her estranged husband, advising her to work for a living given her professional qualifications and background.

The woman, who appeared in person in a marital dispute case, sought a luxury apartment in Mumbai, ₹12 crore in maintenance, and a high-end BMW from her former husband.

Chief Justice BR Gavai, heading the bench, remarked that the demands were excessive, stating, "That house is in Kalpataru, one of the top builders. You are an IT professional, you have an MBA. There is demand for you in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Why don't you work?" NDTV reported.

CJI Gavai also pointed out that the couple was married for only 18 months. "And you also want a BMW? You are asking for nearly ₹1 crore for each month of your marriage," he observed. "Aap itni padhai ki hai. Aapko khud kama ke khana chahiye, maangna nahi chahiye (You are well-educated. You should earn your living instead of asking for support)," he added. The court has reserved its order.

Woman Cites Husband's Wealth and Past Allegations
Defending her demands, the woman told the court that her husband is extremely wealthy and had unfairly sought an annulment, alleging she was schizophrenic. "He is very rich. He sought annulment claiming I'm schizophrenic. Do I look like a schizophrenic, my lords?" she argued before the bench.

She further claimed that her husband, a former Citibank manager who now runs two businesses, had forced her to resign from her job. During the proceedings, the court examined the husband's tax records after his legal team argued that his income had dropped since he quit his corporate position.

Responding to this, the Chief Justice told the woman she should be "satisfied" with the flat already available to her and advised her to take up employment. "Or better take those ₹4 crore, find a job in Pune, Hyderabad, or Bangalore - there is demand in IT hubs," CJI Gavai said.

Husband's Counsel Urges Shared Responsibility
Senior Advocate Madhavi Divan, representing the husband, also weighed in, arguing that the woman should contribute to her own livelihood. "She has to work too. Everything cannot be demanded like this," Divan said.

The case highlights the judiciary's increasing stance that maintenance should be fair and not a route to extravagant lifestyles, particularly when the person seeking it is professionally qualified and employable.