Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has recently informed the Bombay High Court that he simply wants to see his two children and that if it is granted, he will withdraw his habeas corpus plea filed against his estranged wife.
Advocate Pradeep Thorat, appearing for the actor stated that the children were missing from their school in Dubai and he was unable to trace them.
“That was the only reason a habeas corpus petition was filed. I am aware of the limited remedies available through this petition. He has not seen his children in person. This is his limited concern. After that, I will withdraw the petition,” Thorat stated.
Advocate Shikhar Khandelwal, who appeared for Siddiqui’s estranged wife, stated that the petition was frivolous because the woman and her two children were living in a bungalow owned by the actor’s mother at the time the plea was filed.
“My client is eager to settle the matter. But, if she is living with the children in the actor’s mother’s house, how can he be unaware of their whereabouts? He is completely free to meet his children. He is the one who is failing to meet them,” Khandelwal explained.
Thorat further stated that Siddiqui’s estranged wife was facing a FIR filed by his family and had moved the Bombay High Court to have it dismissed. In that case, a different division bench of justices summoned both parties before the chamber to settle the dispute. The petition of the estranged wife was last heard on March 14, according to Thorat.
The matter is set for further consideration on March 27, 2023.
“At the moment, all concerns are being communicated via lawyers on email, which is primarily for demand of money. The parties are scheduled to gather in the judges’ chamber on the next hearing date, March 27. We can keep this case after that,” Thorat proposed.
While Khandelwal objected to Thorat’s allegation regarding “demand for money” and requested for proof of the same, the bench agreed with Thorat about first waiting to see if an amicable settlement could be reached.
Issues arose between the pair after the estranged wife and children, who live in Dubai, arrived in Mumbai, resulting in a legal battle between the two. According to Siddiqui’s plea, his approval was not obtained before the children were moved from the UAE to India.
