Can serious allegations against a husband make headlines, only for the divorce case to be withdrawn before the court decides them? Sangeetha Vijay has withdrawn her divorce plea against C Joseph CM Vijay after alleging an extra-marital relationship, cruelty and desertion.
CHENGALPATTU: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor C Joseph Vijay’s wife Sangeetha Vijay has withdrawn her divorce petition filed before the Chengalpattu court.
Sangeetha had approached the District Court at Chengalpattu earlier in 2026 under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, seeking dissolution of the marriage along with financial and residential reliefs.
In the petition, she had alleged that Vijay was involved in an “extra-marital relationship” with an actress.
Other reports concerning the original petition stated that Sangeetha accused Vijay of “persistent mental cruelty, neglect and desertion” and claimed that their marriage had “irretrievably broken down”.
These were allegations made by Sangeetha in her matrimonial proceedings. They were not judicial findings against Vijay.
Sangeetha and Vijay had registered their marriage in the United Kingdom on July 10, 1998. They later solemnised their marriage in Chennai on August 25, 1999, according to Hindu rites and customs.
The divorce petition was reportedly filed under Sections 27(1)(a), 27(1)(b) and 27(1)(d), read with Sections 36 and 37 of the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
Apart from divorce, Sangeetha had sought the right to continue residing in the matrimonial home until final disposal of the proceedings or to be provided alternate accommodation. She had also sought permanent alimony according to Vijay’s income.
However, on August 7, 2026, Sangeetha withdrew the divorce petition. With the divorce petition withdrawn, the proceedings ended without the court deciding whether the allegations made against Vijay were proved.
EXPLANATORY TABLE OF LAWS AND SECTIONS
| Law / Section | What It Means | Application In This Case |
| Section 27(1)(a), Special Marriage Act, 1954 | Provides adultery as one of the statutory grounds for seeking divorce under the Act. | Sangeetha reportedly relied upon this provision while making allegations concerning an extra-marital relationship. |
| Section 27(1)(b), Special Marriage Act, 1954 | Provides desertion for the statutory period as a ground for divorce. | The original petition reportedly contained allegations of desertion. |
| Section 27(1)(d), Special Marriage Act, 1954 | Provides cruelty as a ground for dissolution of marriage. | Sangeetha reportedly alleged mental cruelty in support of her divorce petition. |
| Section 36, Special Marriage Act, 1954 | Deals with alimony pendente lite where the statutory conditions are satisfied. | The divorce proceedings included a claim for financial relief. |
| Section 37, Special Marriage Act, 1954 | Deals with permanent alimony and maintenance. | Sangeetha reportedly sought permanent alimony linked to Vijay’s income. |
| Withdrawal of Divorce Petition | A petitioner may withdraw proceedings subject to applicable procedural law and court orders. Withdrawal ordinarily means that the dispute is not finally adjudicated on its merits in that proceeding. | Sangeetha withdrew her petition on August 7, 2026. Therefore, the reported matrimonial allegations were not finally adjudicated in this case. |
CASE DETAILS
| Case Particular | Details |
| Case Title | Sangeetha Vijay v. C Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar |
| Court | District Court / Family Court proceedings at Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu |
| Petitioner | Sangeetha Vijay |
| Respondent | C Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar |
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Serious Allegations, Zero Final Finding: Vijay faced claims of an “extra-marital relationship”, but the case ended without those allegations being proved.
- Divorce, Cruelty, Alimony — All At Once: One matrimonial case exposed the husband to multiple allegations, financial claims and public scrutiny.
- Accusation Is Not Conviction: A petition can destroy a man’s image long before any court decides whether the allegation is even true.
- Case Withdrawn, Questions Remain: The wife withdrew the divorce plea before the allegations could face final judicial scrutiny.
- You Can Withdraw a Case, Not the Damage: The petition may disappear, but the headlines, stigma and reputational hit against the man can remain forever.
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