Dimple's plea against DV Act case to be heard by woman judge

Anita Advani, who claims to have been the live-in partner of late actor Rajesh Khanna, today sought that an application filed against her by Dimple Kapadia should be heard by a woman judge.
Soon after the death of Khanna last year, Anita had filed a case against Dimple and her family under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.
According to Anita, she was the actor's live-in partner but was driven out of the suburban bungalow 'Aashirwad' when Khanna fell sick. Anita had sought maintenance from Dimple and her family.
Dimple, her daughters Twinkle and Rinki and son-in-law Akshay Kumar approached the high court last December seeking quashing of the case.

When the matter came up for hearing before Justice K U Chandiwal today, Anita's advocate Manohar Shetty said the matter was placed wrongly before this court and it should be heard by a court presided by a lady judge.
As per directives issued by the High Court earlier, all matters pertaining to offences against women shall be heard by a court presided by a lady judge.

Justice Chandiwal accordingly directed the registry to place the matter before an appropriate bench and directed that the interim relief granted last year in the matter for stay on the summons issued by the magistrate court directing Dimple and others to remain present before it, to continue.

Dimple's counsel Girish Kulkarni pointed out to the court that incidentally today was the late actor's first death anniversary.
In her petition, Dimple has contended that she was the legally wedded wife of Khanna and as such no other woman can claim share in the wealth left behind by her husband.