In a recent judgment on 22 July 2025, the Hon’ble Supreme Court ended a long and painful legal fight between a husband and wife, Shivangi Bansal (an IPS officer) and Sahib Bansal. The Court dissolved their marriage, quashed all pending criminal and civil cases filed by both sides, granted custody of the daughter to the wife, and gave supervised visitation rights to the father. The Court also ordered that no more cases will be filed in future, and that both sides must maintain peace for the sake of their families.
Brief Facts of the Case
- The couple got married on 5th December 2015 and had a daughter in December 2016.
- They started living separately from 4th October 2018 due to family and marital issues.
- After separation, the wife filed many cases against the husband and his family, including serious criminal allegations like Section 498A, 376, 511, 307 IPC and others.
- The husband also filed a few cases, including for child custody and defamation.
- Both sides were fighting multiple cases in different cities for years, causing financial and emotional stress to their families.
- In the Supreme Court, they agreed to settle all issues peacefully, including custody of the child and property matters.
Legal Provisions Involved
- Section 13(1) of Hindu Marriage Act – For divorce.
- Article 142 of Constitution of India – Supreme Court’s special power to do complete justice.
- Section 125 CrPC, 498A IPC, 376 IPC, 406 IPC, Domestic Violence Act, etc. – Involved in various cases filed by both parties.
- Guardians and Wards Act – For child custody.
Arguments by Both Sides
Wife’s Side:
Asked for transfer of divorce case to Hapur.
Filed multiple criminal and civil cases including demand for maintenance and custody.
Husband’s Side:
Opposed transfer.
Asked for custody rights and removal of false criminal charges.
Highlighted the impact of long litigation on his career and personal life.
Later, both agreed to settle everything in front of the Court.
What the Court Said
- The daughter will remain in her mother’s custody, but the father will get to meet her once a month and during holidays.
- The wife gave up her right to claim any maintenance or alimony from the husband – even for the daughter.
- The Supreme Court cancelled all criminal and civil cases between both families.
- The Court also ordered that no more cases should be filed in the future.
- The wife and her parents must publish an unconditional apology in newspapers and on social media for the damage caused to the husband’s family.
- The wife, being an IPS officer, was directed not to misuse her official position against her ex-husband or his family.
- The Court provided police protection to the husband and his family.
- The Court dissolved the marriage by using Article 142, and asked everyone to move forward peacefully.
Comments from the author of this website
This case shows how badly a man’s life can be affected when serious criminal charges are filed during marital disputes. The husband and his father spent over 100 days in jail, but in the end, all the cases were quashed by the Supreme Court. If these allegations were false or exaggerated, why did the family have to suffer so much?
There were over a dozen criminal complaints — including very serious charges like rape, unnatural offences, attempt to murder — and almost every member of the husband’s family was dragged into cases. Even income tax notices were sent. The entire family went through mental, social, and professional harassment for years. And after all this, everything was withdrawn in one single order.
The real question is — can anyone give them back their lost time, reputation, and peace? The law was used as a weapon, and even though the Court tried to close the chapter, there is no punishment or accountability for the misuse of the law. What happened to this family can happen to anyone.
There must be strong legal safeguards to stop such misuse of laws like 498A, 406, DV Act, etc. Filing such serious complaints should not be so easy. It’s time for our legal system to also think about the protection of innocent men and their families. These cases should be investigated first before people are arrested or jailed.
Final Thoughts:
The Supreme Court took a very mature and practical approach to end a very complex and emotional legal fight. By using Article 142, the Court brought peace to both families and made sure that the child gets love from both parents.
But the larger problem still remains. When one side misuses the legal system, there must be consequences. Otherwise, more families will continue to suffer silently for years. This judgment is not just about one couple — it’s a reminder for lawmakers and courts to think about fair treatment for everyone, irrespective of gender.
If we truly want justice, we need a balanced system — one that protects the real victims but also prevents the misuse of law.
Read Complete Judgement Here