The legal battle of former Delhi University Professor Lotika Sarkar to get possession of her house has come to an end.
The legal battle of former Delhi University Professor Lotika Sarkar to get possession of her house has come to an end with the senior IPS officer, who was gifted with the property, agreeing to return it back.
The IPS officer Nirmal Dhoundial and his wife agreed to return the property, situated in the posh Hauz Khas locality after Sarkar, widow of eminent journalist Chanchal Sarkar, told Delhi High Court that she made a mistake by gifting the house to the Dhoundiyals and now wanted it back.
The Bihar-cadre officer who was also present in the court, immediately assured it that he would hand over the property to her. "The property was given to us out of love and affection and if she wants it back, we don't have any problem," he submitted before a Bench of justice SN Dhingra.
Sarkar, 87, in her statement before the court said that she had gifted the property to the Dhoundiyals without any force or coercion.
Taking the versions of the officer and Sarkar into account, the court allowed the plea of the widow to get her house back but quashed the proceedings initiated against the Dhoundiyals in a tribunal under the Maintenance and Welfare of the Parents and Senior Citizens Act.
The proceedings in the court was marked with emotional outburst with the wife of the officer breaking down while answering queries from the court regarding their association with Sarkar, who was not able to recollect the past events and recognise people very well.
The court had on October 30 ordered the sealing of the property and asked the family of the police officer to vacate the premises. The interim order had come on a petition filed by Preeti Dhoundial, wife of the officer seeking an immediate stay on the order passed by a Tribunal, set up under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, directing the police to clear the house.
The controversy came to light last year when the widow, who is childless, was allegedly forced to live away from her own home after the Dhoundials claimed the property, worth crores, was gifted by her to them in 2007.
Meanwhile, the court directed the SHO concerned to keep a vigil on Sarkar's house and restrained an NGO, which had sought restoration of the property to her, to intervene in her affairs.
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