The Supreme Court has dissolved the marriage between Anurag Vijaykumar Goel and his estranged wife under Article 142 of the Constitution, citing irretrievable breakdown. The apex court also quashed the pending criminal case under Section 498A IPC, calling it “banal” and a result of exaggerated marital discord.
Background
The couple had married in July 2015 but started facing disputes within two years. The husband claimed he left their shared apartment in Mumbai due to continuous harassment and moved to Faridabad to live with his aged parents and his autistic son from a previous marriage. The wife, however, alleged abandonment and domestic violence.
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In April 2018, over a year after their separation, the wife lodged a complaint under Section 498A IPC. This led to criminal proceedings, which the husband sought to quash under Section 482 CrPC.
Initially, both parties reached a mutual divorce settlement in September 2022. The wife agreed to clear apartment dues and the husband agreed to gift her the property. The first motion for mutual divorce was filed accordingly. But before the second motion, the wife withdrew her consent and sought ₹12 crores as alimony and full ownership of the Mumbai flat.
The husband filed for contempt, which was dismissed by a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court. The wife cited coercion and fraud in signing the earlier settlement, but the Supreme Court found those allegations unsubstantiated.
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“Allegations in the FIR were common-place, banal and vague… There is nothing substantial justifying prosecution under Section 498A.”
The court held that the disputes were marital in nature and didn’t justify a criminal trial. The FIR was filed a year after separation, weakening its credibility.
The bench noted that:
- The wife was gainfully employed at the time of separation.
- She holds engineering and management degrees.
- The husband, now unemployed, had already offered to transfer a ₹4 crore worth property and two parking slots.
“The gift of the said property... would reasonably take care of the respondent-wife even after divorce.”
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The court cited the husband’s responsibility towards his autistic child and declining income while denying further alimony.
- The Supreme Court dissolved the marriage under Article 142 due to its unworkable nature.
- All civil and criminal proceedings between the couple were ordered to be closed.
- The husband is to clear pending maintenance dues of approx ₹26 lakhs to the housing society and execute the property transfer deed by August 30, 2025.
- If the wife doesn’t appear for registration, the court has fixed September 15, 2025, as the final date. Failure to appear will not stall the divorce.
Case Title: Anurag Vijaykumar Goel vs State of Maharashtra & Anr.
Case Number: Criminal Appeal No. 5277 of 2024
Date of Judgment: 05 August 2025