Leander Paes seeks to quash order directing him to pay Rs 1 lakh monthly maintenance to former partner Rhea Pillai

In his appeal, Paes has said that the nature of their relationship was not in the “nature of marriage” and that he had remained cordial with her despite their relationship breaking down for the sake of their child, born in 2006. He sought condoning of the delay in filing the appeal citing among reasons his father’s health.

Pillai filed a plea in the court under the Domestic Violence Act in 2014, alleging that she was subjected to domestic violence by Paes, who she was in a relationship with since 2003 and was living with him from 2005-06.

Paes in his appeal has said that his apartment is mortgaged and he is unable to take care of Pillai’s financial demands. He alleged that he had been taking care of his daughter’s financial responsibilities, while Pillai “splurged on herself”. His plea also states while Pillai had received two flats from actor Sanjay Dutt as part of their divorce settlement, she chose to continue to live in their shared residence, burdening him financially.

Before the magistrate court, Paes had submitted that Pillai’s plea was not maintainable under the Act since she was still married to Dutt when they began living together and only got divorced from her previous marriage in 2008.

He had claimed that he was unaware of her marital status, which the court had said was difficult to believe. Even though Pillai was still married legally when she began living with Paes, the fact of “existence of relationship beyond marriage is undeniable”, the court had said.