Panda gives in as NCW takes up wife’s case

Bowing before the National Commission for Women (NCW), former Inspector General of Police (Rules and Manuals) D K Panda—the self-proclaimed ‘‘Doosri Radha’’—today agreed to pay his wife a monthly maintenance allowance of Rs 7,000. He has also agreed to withdraw the cases filed against her.

Earlier, Panda had approached the Supreme Court stating that he was unable to meet his wife, Veena’s demand of a monthly alimony of Rs 7,000. But today, he claimed that that he had always been ready to pay the amount, but the problem arose because his wife ‘‘insisted on more’’. Asked if he had set a deadline for paying the maintenance, he said, ‘‘It would be as soon as possible’’.

The NCW took up the case following a complaint filed by Veena.

Besides, the monthly allowance, Panda has also agreed to give Veena Rs 15 lakhs for construction/ purchase of a house in Lucknow. But he refused to give her space in his two-storey house at Preetam Nagar in Allahabad.