Chidambaram, Singhvi and Shyam Divan in Jaidev Shroff's dispute with his estranged wife’s accommodation

The Supreme Court today directed Jaidev Shroff, Global CEO of UPL Limited, to pay rent for the premises at which his estranged wife Poonam Shroff wishes to reside. He is liable to pay rent till the completion of the divorce proceedings, the Court said..Amidst a series of murky allegations ranging from “black magic” to theft, the marital discord between the parties continues. Today, Poonam Shroff’s petition praying that she be reinstated at her marital home was taken up by the Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant..Senior Advocates P Chidambaram and Shyam Divan appeared for the petitioner, stating that in light of the ongoing divorce proceedings at a family court in Bandra, Mumbai, Jaidev Shroff had “thrown out” his wife and their 13-year-old daughter from their home at Pali Hill..Chidambaram submitted that not taking action against such a ghastly act would be antithetical to the various provisions of special legislations formulated for protection of women. Moreover, the wife had the “right to a shared household”, he argued..Divan added,“How can it be that in a country like India, a wife and a 13-year-old child are subjected to such treatment and nothing is done about it?”.Denying the claims and quipping them as hogwash, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Jaidev Shroff. He argued that Poonam Shroff had made this matrimonial battle her “luxury business”. He further submitted,“Poonam Shroff is worth Rs. 1,000 crore and her claim of wanting to share in household with Jai Shroff is without merits. Even more so, after fighting with her husband in court for half a decade.”.In an attempt to put quietus to the issue, CJI Bobde directed the CEO of UPL Limited to pay rent of any premise that his wife and daughter may choose to live in. Further, it was directed that he shall continue to pay rent till the divorce proceedings are disposed off.CJI Bobde went on to tell the petitioner,.“Why do you want to live in his house? Go find one you like, he will pay for it”CJI SA Bobde.The accusations began when industrialist Jaidev Shroff filed a divorce against his wife Poonam Shroff in October 2015 on grounds of “cruelty”. He had alleged that his art patron wife was cruel not only to him, but also to his two children from his first wife.