Shikhar Dhawan divorce: In a major relief for former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, a Delhi family court has ordered his ex-wife, Aesha Mukerji, to return Rs 5.7 crore (AU$894,397) to him, which she had received as part of a property settlement in Australia. The court ruled that Mukerji obtained the amount by mounting threats and fraud on the 40-year-old ace batsman.
"Australian court's ruling invalid": Patiala House family court
A bench at the Patiala House family court, headed by judge Devender Kumar Garg, observed that Dhawan's marriage with Mukerji was registered in India, and hence, the Australian court did not have the jurisdiction to adjudicate the dispute. Furthermore, the court ruled that Dhawan is not bound by any of the orders passed by the Australian court pertaining to the divorce proceedings.
Judge Garg noted that all the property settlement documents signed by Dhawan be treated null and void, as the latter had taken the step under trickery, coercion, threat and fraudulent circumstances.
Shikhar Dhawan divorce: Mukerji directed to pay 9% annual interest on the amount
Hearing the matter further, the court directed that Mukerji pay 9% annual interest on the amount from the date Dhawan had filed the suit. Notably, the Australian court's orders were passed in favour of Mukerji in February 2024. The court had divided the couple's global assets, which included all properties and finances owned by Dhawan in India. The Delhi court nullified the February 2024 order passed by the Australian court, in which Mukerji was awarded 15% of the total asset pool.
After the Australian court passed the orders, Mukerji had procured Rs 7.46 crore (AU$1.17 million) in assets and was granted an additional Rs 15.95 crore (AU$2.5 million) from Dhawan, along with the transfer of a property.
"Mukerji threatened to tarnish my reputation," Dhawan tells court
Notably, between 2021 and 2024, the Australian court gave multiple rulings in the case, leading to the division of the couple's properties. Dhawan challenged the rulings made by the Australian court, contending that they were against the Indian marriage laws.
Dhawan submitted a statement to the Patiala house court, alleging that soon after his marriage with Mukerji in 2012, she allegedly threatened to propagate fabricated and defamatory material against him, if he did not cater to her financial demands. Furthermore, he claimed that he was compelled to register the properties bought by him during the ordeal either jointly or predominantly in Mukerji's name.
Mukerji failed to appear despite multiple summons by Delhi court
Judge Garg stated that despite multiple summons by the Delhi court, Mukerji neither contested, nor opposed Dhawan's claims.
Dhawan ties the knot for the second time on Feb 22, 2025
After a Delhi court granted divorce to the couple in 2023, Dhawan entered into his second marriage with Sophie Shine, an Irish corporate on February 22, 2025. Shine holds global experience in financial services, consulting, and sports business management.