“I was not given food... threatened,” K’taka guv’s grandson accused of dowry abuse by wife
Bhopal: Divya Gehlot, wife of Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot’s grandson Devendra Gehlot, has reportedly filed a case against her spouse and his family over allegations of dowry harassment, physical and mental abuse and attempt to murder and kidnapping of her four-year-old daughter.
In her complaint to Ratlam SP Amit Kumar, she has alleged that her in-laws have forcibly kept her daughter in detention in Nagda in Ujjain district.
Divya has named her husband Devendra Gehlot (33), former Alot MLA Jitendra Gehlot (55), brother-in-law Vishal Gehlot (25), and grandmother-in-law Anita Gehlot (60) for alleged dowry harassment and abuse.
She further claimed that Devendra was an alcoholic, drug addict, and maintained illicit relationships, details of which she says were hidden before their marriage.
She mentioned in the complaint that Devendra’s indecent behaviour and physical abuse were a regular occurrence, post-marriage.
The duo were married on April 29, 2018, under the Chief Minister's Kanyadana Yojana in Tal (Alot). The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the then Union Minister and former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
According to her complaint, the violence intensified in 2021, when she was pregnant. “I was not given food and was mentally abused; this continued even after the child’s birth,” Divya said.
She alleged that on the night of January 26, 2025, Devendra, in an inebriated state, threatened to kill her if she failed to bring money as dowry and pushed her off the roof.
Divya said that despite her sustaining injuries after falling from the gallery, she was not taken to the hospital. The next day, she was taken to a private hospital in Nagda, and the doctors advised her to be taken to Bombay Hospital in Indore as her condition was critical.
Divya also claimed her in-laws have been preventing her from meeting her daughter. In November, she complained that when she visited her daughter at school, her husband stopped her and demanded she get money from her parents if she wanted to see her daughter.
Ratlam police have reportedly forwarded the complaint to authorities in Ujjain district, as the incident occurred under the district’s jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, responding to the allegations, former MLA Jitendra Gehlot stated, “Anyone can make allegations. I will inform the media about everything.”
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
