Anita Advani Rajesh Khanna case: The Bombay High Court (HC) on Wednesday dismissed a plea filed by Anita Advani, who had earlier sought legal recognition of her relationship with late Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna as a valid marriage. A bench led by Justice Sharmila Deshmukh trashed the plea after hearing submissions from both parties. The court, during the hearing, also considered arguments presented on behalf of Khanna’s estranged wife, Dimple Kapadia, their daughter Twinkle Khanna, and son-in-law Akshay Kumar. A detailed judgment is likely to be released in due course. 

[caption id="attachment_2055" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Justice Sharmila Deshmukh of Bombay HC[/caption]

A long-standing legal dispute

Advani had earlier knocked the doors of Bombay HC in 2017, after a civil court dismissed her suit on technical grounds. In her plea, she sought a declaration that her association with Khanna constituted a lawful marriage. However, the court noted that Kapadia remained Khanna’s legally wedded wife. Although the couple had been living separately for years, they did not opt for a divorce. 

Advani mounted claims after Khanna’s death in 2012

Following Khanna’s demise in the year 2012, Advani asserted publicly that she had shared a long-standing relationship with him, and also claimed that they had got married secretly, alleging that he had applied Sindoor on her forehead. Furthermore, she levelled allegations against Khanna’s family of neglecting him during his last days and of excluding her from attending his last rites. 

Anita Advani Rajesh Khanna case: Proceedings that took place earlier

Earlier, the incident had led to multiple legal proceedings, as Advani accused Kapadia, Twinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar of evicting her forcibly from Khanna’s residence. She even filed a domestic violence complaint against the trio before a Bandra Magistrate court. However, in 2015, the HC quashed the domestic violence case. 

[caption id="attachment_2056" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Bombay HC[/caption] With the dismissal of her latest appeal, Adavani’s attempt to secure legal recognition as Khanna’s wife has been rejected yet again. According to officials, the court’s detailed reasoning, once released, will provide further clarity on the legal standing of such claims. Also read: “Married woman can seek maintenance from father-in-law if husband dies”: Allahabad HC