Court dismisses divorce plea of Sovan and Ratna Chatterjee citing lack of concrete evidence

Alipore court has dismissed the divorce plea filed by former TMC MLA Sovan Chatterjee against his estranged wife, Ratna Chatterjee. The court's decision, delivered by First Additional District Judge Rajesh Chakraborty, marks a major setback for the former politician who had been seeking to formalize his separation since 2017.

Sovan Chatterjee had initiated the divorce proceedings based on allegations of "cruel behavior" and financial mismanagement on the part of his wife. He claimed that Ratna's conduct had been detrimental to their family life and that she had failed to look after their children properly. These accusations formed the cornerstone of his argument, which his legal team presented before the court over the past several years.

However, during the proceedings, the court found that Sovan Chatterjee's legal team was unable to substantiate these serious allegations. The lack of concrete evidence to prove "cruel behavior" or financial mismanagement was a key factor in the court's decision. This failure to provide sufficient proof ultimately led to the dismissal of the plea, leaving the marital status of the couple unchanged in the eyes of the law.

Adding another layer of complexity to the case, the court also dismissed a separate application filed by Ratna Chatterjee. In her plea, she had sought to live with Sovan, a request that the court rejected on the grounds that no person can be forced to live with another. This ruling reinforces the legal principle that personal cohabitation cannot be compelled by judicial order.