'Dead' wife appears in person; dramatic scenes at High Court

KOCHI: Dramatic scenes unfolded in the High Court while considering a habeas corpus petition filed by a Tamil Nadu native seeking the release of his 'detained' wife. The petitioner is Jean Singh (63), a retired officer of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. The petitioner had informed that Shraddha Lenin (42), a native of Gwalior, is his wife and is said to be dead.

Shraddha Lenin, who was produced by the police in the court, denied it. Shraddha stated that she was not married to the petitioner, that she was friends with him, and that she did not wish to continue the relationship. She clarified that after the petitioner started blackmailing her, she sent him a message saying that she was dead and a funeral footage from other phone numbers to end the friendship. The two met through a matrimonial advertisement.

The petitioner, who appeared in court, admitted that there was no legal marriage and that the thali was tied in a church. He demanded that the two crore rupees that the woman and her friends had robbed from him be returned. The woman argued that the money was given by the petitioner voluntarily. She stated that she was not in anyone's custody and that there was no threat to her life. The division bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M.B. Snehalatha, who recorded this information, dismissed the habeas corpus petition. The court clarified that it would not go into the details of the case and that if there was financial fraud, both parties can move legally.

Funeral footage

Jean Singh alleged that Thrissur native K.M. Joseph Steven and his associates had detained his wife. In the meantime, misleading phone messages came from 'a lawyer' and 'a nun'. They informed him that Shraddha was dead and also sent funeral footage. Shraddha informed the court that this was a drama that she had staged herself. The funeral footage belongs to a relative. After the petition was taken up for argument the other day, the police and the prosecution traced the phone numbers and found Shraddha at her residence in Maradu.

The petitioner had mistakenly stated that Joseph Steven's name was Lenin Thampi. The prosecution pointed out that there was no clarity in the name and address. Shraddha says that she used to organise fashion shows, and Jean Singh gave her money in the name of friendship. The petitioner is of the view that a fraud case will be filed.