A marriage Unravels Under the Spotlight
For years, they were seen as a quiet, dignified couple who stayed far away from controversy. But now, the marriage between Vijay and Sangeetha Sornalingam has erupted into a deeply personal and painfully public legal battle.
In a detailed petition filed before the family court, sangeetha paints a picture of betrayal, emotional abandonment, and what she describes as sustained mental cruelty. What began as private hurt, she claims, eventually spiraled into public humiliation — played out through social media, foreign trips, and silence that, she argues, spoke louder than denial.
Here’s how the story unfolds.
1️⃣ The Alleged Affair That Changed Everything
According to the petition, the turning point came in april 2021.
sangeetha claims she discovered that her husband was involved in an extramarital relationship with an actress. The revelation, she says, shattered her trust and left her emotionally devastated.
She alleges that although Vijay initially promised to end the relationship, he continued the association without remorse. That continuation, she argues, wasn’t just betrayal — it was a deep and ongoing wound that eroded the very foundation of their marriage.
2️⃣ Emotional Distance and Isolation at Home
From 2021 onward, the petition alleges that Vijay gradually withdrew from her emotionally.
sangeetha claims she was subjected to verbal disrespect, forced into emotional isolation, and made to feel like a stranger in her own marital home. She further alleges that he distanced himself from conjugal relations and intentionally excluded her from his social and professional life.
In her telling, the marriage didn’t collapse overnight — it slowly withered.
3️⃣ Foreign Trips, Public Appearances & social media Firestorms
One of the most explosive parts of the petition revolves around public perception.
sangeetha alleges that Vijay travelled abroad repeatedly and appeared publicly alongside the said actress. Photographs from these trips, she claims, were shared online — triggering waves of speculation and embarrassment.
According to her, Vijay neither denied nor publicly clarified the nature of these appearances. That silence, she contends, indirectly legitimized the rumors and subjected her — and their children — to humiliation among friends, social circles, and online communities.
4️⃣ Attempts at Peace — And Alleged Continued Conduct
Between august 2024 and february 2025, sangeetha says efforts were made through legal notices and correspondence to settle matters amicably.
But she claims the alleged relationship and related social media controversies continued through 2024, causing what she describes as sustained psychological trauma.
To her, this wasn’t a misunderstanding. It was a pattern.
5️⃣ Allegations of Financial Control
The petition goes beyond emotional distress.
sangeetha alleges that instead of expressing regret, Vijay began withdrawing certain privileges she had previously enjoyed as a spouse. She claims financial restrictions were imposed and her freedom of movement curtailed.
The legal replies sent on Vijay’s behalf, she argues, reflected what she describes as financial dominance and a dismissive attitude — adding another layer of humiliation to an already strained relationship.
6️⃣ The Actress: Named — But Not Yet
Interestingly, the actress at the center of the alleged affair has not been named in the primary petition.
sangeetha states she is intentionally withholding the name to avoid unnecessary publicity and to protect reputations. However, she has reserved the right to add the actress as a second respondent if the burden of proof regarding the alleged relationship demands it.
In other words, the door remains open.
7️⃣ “Irretrievably Broken” — The Final Argument
At the heart of the petition lies one powerful assertion: the marriage, she says, is beyond repair.
sangeetha argues that the relationship now exists only in name and that there is no possibility of reconciliation. She has therefore sought dissolution of the marriage solemnized on 25 august 1999 under the Special marriage Act, 1954.
8️⃣ What She Is Asking the court For
Along with the divorce decree under Section 27(1)(a), (b), and (d) of the Act, sangeetha has requested:
The right to reside in the marital home in Neelankarai until final disposal of the case or until alternative accommodation suitable to Vijay’s status is provided.
Permanent alimony proportionate to his income and social standing.
A Private Rift Turned Public Reckoning
What makes this case particularly explosive isn’t just the allegations — it’s the contrast.
A high-profile marriage once perceived as stable is now being described in court filings as emotionally fractured, publicly humiliating, and legally unsalvageable.
For now, these remain allegations laid out in a petition. The court will ultimately determine the legal truth. But one thing is undeniable: a once-private partnership has entered a decisive and dramatic new chapter — and the outcome could reshape both personal lives and public perception forever.
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