Television's blue-eyed beauty Sanjeeda Shaikh who is currently playing a pivotal role in Star Plus' Love Ka Hai Intezaar has landed herself in some serious legal trouble.
The actor's sister-in-law Zakerabanu Zakir Hussain Bagban—who is married to Sanjeeda's brother Anas Abdul Rahim Sheikh—has slapped a case of domestic violence against Shaikh and her family.
"They often demanded money and beat me up"
Zakerabanu has alleged that Shaikh and her family demanded money from her as well as physically abused her.
"They often demanded money from my father and would beat me up. My husband is alcoholic, a drug addict and is also involved in match-fixing," Zakerabanu, 22, shared with a daily.
If reports are to be believed, Zakerabanu has also alleged that while she was speaking to her father on the phone, Sanjeeda along with Anas and her mother-in-law assaulted her.
She also added that they did not want her to stay with them in Mumbai and therefore, she left for her home in Ahmedabad, and was even hospitalised for two-days because of the assault.
But Sanjeeda alleges her sister-in-law is lying!
However, Shaikh filed a counter case against the domestic violence petition in the Ahmedabad High Court.
They reportedly alleged that Zakerabanu had a disturbed relationship with her father and therefore, she could not sustain a loving relationship with her husband Anas.
A post shared by Sanjeeda Shaikh (@iamsanjeeda) on
And as for the assault, Shaikh's lawyers added that on the day she flew off to Ahmedabad, she informed her husband that she wasn't feeling well. And Shaikh was out shooting. This, as opposed to Zakerabanu's claims of physical assault.
"The FIR is baseless and merely to harass the in-laws"
It seems that Shaikh's lawyer managed to get the judgement in their favour.
"Court has passed an order in favour of my client by stating that the investigating agency should not take any coercive steps against her. In other words, court accepted our submission that the FIR is baseless, bad in jurisdiction and merely filed to harass my client," Sanjeeda's lawyer told a daily.
This news has come as a shock to many of Shaikh's fans who have often seen her praise and glorify her own in-laws.
"I am a daughter for my in-laws"
In fact, an interview post her wedding Shaikh stated that her in-laws were quite liberal and treated her like their own daughter.
"I know people say that things change after marriage because you shift to a different house with a new family. However, I am a daughter for my in-laws and not their daughter-in-law hence it’s still the same for me. In fact, I can wear and do whatever I want to. It feels like I have known my in laws for ages now," says the actor who is married to fellow telly star Amir Ali.
Although the first order is in favour of the actor, what remains to be seen is whether Zakerabanu and Shaikh's family will find peace together.
Either way, let's not forget that domestic abuse is a serious offence and must not be taken lightly, and every woman must know her basic rights.
Stand up against abuse
As a woman who is subjected to abuse by in-laws or at the hands of the husband, you have certain rights.
- You have the right to shared household and if you are tortured, you can ask the courts to allot you personal space in the same house as your in-laws
- You also have the right to ask the Police and the courts for assistance in action against the in-laws and the husband
- You also have the right to get several orders issued in your favour such as for custody of your kids, monetary help, protection, residence and ex-parte orders
Read: Just In: Mothers-in-law cannot sue their daughters-in-law for domestic violence
(All images courtesy: Instagram)
