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Nav Ratan Sharma vs. Chetna And Anr & Anr.

Criminal Revision Petition (Matrimonial) · 2026:DHC:8394Decided 28 Sept 2026New Delhi Bench
CRL.REV.P.(MAT.) 531/2026CNR: DLHC010428082026
Justice Prateek Jalan

Background

A husband was ordered by the Family Court to pay Rs. 7,500 per month each to his estranged wife and child, based on an assessed monthly income of Rs. 30,000. He challenged only the income figure, claiming his real salary was Rs. 25,000. During the case he gave inconsistent accounts of his employment history, falsely claimed unemployment and dependence on family rental income, and concealed a bank account that bank records later revealed.

Decision Breakdown

The High Court held its revisional powers are narrow and don't permit re-weighing evidence absent a clear legal or jurisdictional error, finding none here. The Family Court was entitled to draw an adverse inference given the husband's contradictory statements, concealed bank account, and lack of documentary proof for his claimed salary. The Court also noted that even accepting his figure, the resulting difference in maintenance would be only about Rs. 2,500 total per month: too minor to justify interference. The revision petition was dismissed.

Lesson Learnt

Courts will presume a person is hiding income when they give inconsistent statements, conceal bank accounts, or fail to produce salary proof: full financial disclosure in maintenance proceedings matters more than technical arguments over the exact income figure, especially when the disputed difference is small.

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