Supreme Court puts on hold divorce judgment in Kunal Kapur

The Supreme Court has stayed a Delhi High Court judgement that had granted divorce to chef Kunal Kapur from his wife on grounds of cruelty. Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti have given a notice to Kapur and referred the matter before the mediation center for possible reconciliation.

In April, the Delhi High court awarded divorce to Kunal Kapur on account of “conduct which is devoid of dignity and empathy." The order by the high court read, "In the light of the aforenoted facts of the present case, we find that the conduct of the respondent (wife) towards the appellant (husband) has been such that it is devoid of dignity and empathy towards him. When such is the nature of one spouse towards the other, it brings disgrace to the very essence of marriage and there exists no possible reason as to why he should be compelled to live while enduring the agony of living together.”

Kunal Kapur accused his wife who he married in April 2008 and bore a son born in 2012 over her conduct against his parents which it claims was imbued with an element of insult. He stated that she made a scene at his workplace during a MasterChef India shoot in September 2016. On her side, Kapur's Wife alleged that he was making false allegations for misleading purposes.

Kapur also secured a restraining order claiming his wife threatened him with defamatory words and charges. Moreover, he added that she abused him physically at some point prior to a shoot. In fact, this act was held by High court as being detrimental which justified their grant for divorce.

By intervening into this issue, Supreme Court is seeking to mediate a possible solution for the estranged couple. The matter has been referred to the Supreme Court mediation center, which will try and assist in finding a way out.

Kunal Kapur has also been a host and judge on MasterChef India—a popular cooking reality show—where he was seen in seasons 1, 2, 3 and 5. As such his career success and public image have largely suffered as a result of his personal life tribulations.

The Supreme Court’s mediation will determine whether or not the case can be solved outside of court as it proceeds.