If you thought divorce was about ending a bad marriage, think again—it can also be about hitting the jackpot. A doctor and an advocate tied the knot in 2009, called it quits in 2011, and by 2015, the husband managed to prove in court that his wife was cruel. The Family court generously handed her ₹15 lakh alimony and a monthly maintenance of ₹25,000. A sweet deal, considering she was a lawyer and fully capable of earning her own living. Most would’ve closed the chapter there, but why stop when there’s more money to be squeezed out?

She marched on to the High court, demanding a bigger slice. The HC, however, wasn’t impressed—rejecting her plea and upholding the earlier verdict. But persistence, or perhaps sheer audacity, can pay off. Enter the supreme court, where, despite records showing cruelty, false claims of unemployment, and her being financially self-sufficient, the wife struck gold. The husband, who earns ₹1.4 lakh per month, has now been ordered to cough up a staggering ₹50 lakh in five months—the equivalent of 4.5 years of his net salary. Justice, it seems, comes with a price tag, and in this case, the husband’s bank account is footing the bill.

So here we are: a woman proven cruel and dishonest walks away richer, while the man proven wronged is rewarded with financial ruin. If this is the model of equality we’re celebrating, one has to admit—it’s wonderfully progressive. Why bother working when divorce can double up as a retirement plan? Cruelty, apparently, isn’t just tolerated in marriage courts—it’s profitable.

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