New Delhi:
A family court in Patna on Tuesday directed Tej Pratap Yadav, the older son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, to give a monthly alimony of Rs 22,000 to his estranged wife Aishwarya Rai. In addition, the court also asked Tej Pratap to pay Rs 2 lakh separately to Rai. Tej Pratap had filed for divorce from Rai, daughter of senior RJD leader Chandrika Rai and granddaughter of former chief minister Daroga Rai, at the Patna High Court in November last year. They got married in May last.
The news of their separation came months after speculation first rose of Aishwarya joining politics.
Ahead of RJD's foundation day in July, Rai's image could be seen along with her husband and Lalu's elder son Tej Pratap, his brother Tejashwi, the former CM, his wife Rabri Debi and other important party leaders in posters and banners dotting Patna, triggering speculations of her being fielded from Chapra in the 2019 general elections.
Their wedding was attended by several politicians including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, governor Satya Pal Malik and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan. RJD chief Lalu Yadav was out on parole to attend the wedding of his son.
The ceremony saw a huge turnout of RJD workers, who had come to meet party chief Lalu Yadav. Several RJD workers and supporters present barged into the venue and vandalised food stalls. They also stole the cutlery including plates, spoons, and glasses along with cold drinks and ice creams.
In September this year, Rai alleged that she was not provided food for the last three months by her in-laws nor was allowed to enter the family kitchen on the instructions of her sister-in-law Misa Bharti. She said she was surviving on the food sent by her parents.
Rai accused Rabri Devi and Misa Bharti, Rajya Sabha member, of torturing and harassing her. "Misa regularly misbehaved with me, harassed and tortured me. Last night, she again tortured me and threw me out of the house in the presence of Rabri Devi," she had said.
She also blamed Misa for her strained relations with husband Tej Pratap and creating rift between her husband and Tejashwi Yadav. "Misa didn't want my relations with husband to improve," she said.
