Delhi High Court - Orders
Meenakshi Sharma vs Rajesh Bhardwaj on 12 March, 2026
Author: Sachin Datta
Bench: Sachin Datta
$~85
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1411/2025, CM APPL. 59026/2025, CM APPL.
59027/2025
MEENAKSHI SHARMA .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Rajiv Jain, Mr. Deeapak Mayur
and Ms. Kirti Kumari, Advs.
versus
RAJESH BHARDWAJ .....Respondent
Through: Mr. Vikhyat Gupta, Ms. Payal Bahl
and Mr. Abhijit Mishra, Advs. along
with contemnor in person.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA
ORDER
% 12.03.2026 CM APPL. 15162/2026
1. By way of the present application, it is alleged by the petitioner that the sister and mother of the respondent are aiding and abetting the continued contempt / wilful disregard of the orders passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (Mahila Court), North.
2. It is submitted that there has been abject failure on the part of the respondent to pay the requisite maintenance amount in terms of extant judicial orders. The respondent, with a view to suppress his actual income, has taken a stand that he is employed in an LLP from where he receives only Rs.10,000/- in salary and that too in cash. It is alleged in the application that the said LLP viz. Adore Insurance Marketing LLP is a family concern in which the mother and sister of the respondent are designated partners. It is submitted that this business arrangement is designed with a view to This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 16/03/2026 at 21:08:17 artificially suppress the income of the respondent so that he can avoid paying the maintenance to the petitioner.
3. It is submitted that the mother and sister of the respondent, by participating in this arrangement, have aided and abetted the contempt committed by the respondent.
4. It is urged that in terms of the dicta laid down in DDA v. Skipper Construction Co. (P) Ltd., (1996) 4 SCC 622 and Balwantbhai Somabhai Bhandari v. Hiralal Somabhai, (2023) 17 SCC 545, none of the contemnors should be allowed to enjoy the fruits of contempt.
5. It is further submitted that if the mother and sister of the respondent are impleaded in these proceedings and directed to file a reply / affidavit, the same will substantiate that the income being earned through the business being carried out under the banner of Adore Insurance Marketing LLP essentially belongs to the respondent.
6. Issue notice.
7. Learned counsel accepts notice on behalf of the said proposed respondents.
8. Let the respondent as also the proposed respondents file their reply to the present application within a period of four weeks.
9. The proposed respondents (Ms. Sunita and Ms. Anuradha) shall remain present in Court on the next date of hearing.
10. The respondent is directed to file his affidavit of assets, including all movable and immovable properties, as also his bank account statements / credit card statements and income tax returns for the preceding three years till date.
11. The petitioner has expressed a serious apprehension that the This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 16/03/2026 at 21:08:17 respondent poses a flight risk. Let the respondent deposit his original passport in this Court. It is further directed that the respondent shall not travel abroad without the leave of this Court.
12. List on 21.07.2026.
SACHIN DATTA, J MARCH 12, 2026/cl This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 16/03/2026 at 21:08:17