B’luru Woman Gets Triple Talaq on WhatsApp, Maneka Gandhi Steps In

The woman alleges that her husband flew to the US with all her documents andthen gave her triple talaq over WhatsApp

The woman alleges that her husband flew to the US with all her documents and left her stranded in Bengaluru. He then gave her triple talaq over WhatsApp.

(Photo: Rhythum Seth/The Quint)

Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Maneka Gandhi on Saturday, 29 December, stepped in to help a Bengaluru woman whose husband allegedly gave her triple talaq over a WhatsApp message. Gandhi has assured all assistance to the woman in a series of tweets.

"My ministry has taken up case of Triple Talaq on absolute priority. The first instance post the passing of the bill, criminalising the act of instant divorce in the Muslim community will be dealt with and we shall ensure that justice is done," she tweeted.

The minister said she approached the woman's brother and has asked for all the details of the case.

Speaking to ANI, the woman said her husband, Javeed Khan, had left her at her parents’ place and divorced her via a WhatsApp message after he went back to the US. She also requested for External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s help in the matter.

“He left me at my parents’ place, went back to US, divorced me through a message. Can’t reach my kids. Met Joint Secretary of External Affairs Ministry, they are aware of my case, I request EAM Swaraj to help me (sic).”

As told to ANI

The woman has been married to her husband, a surgeon, for 15 years, but the couple started having problems six months into the marriage, reported News18. In a police complaint, she reportedly alleged that her husband abused her emotionally and kept insulting her. He also constantly asked her to leave.

Once he brought her to Bengaluru, he took her documents with him and left for the US.

“Once we reached, he left with his family, while I was stranded at the airport. He had taken away my passport, academic certificates and other identity cards. On 4 December, a day after I filed the police complaint, he sent me talaq on WhatsApp.”

As told to <i>News18 </i>

The couple have two children, aged 10 and 13, who live with their father in Illinois, US, and now reportedly communicate with their mother through their school staff.

News18 reported that the husband sent a WhatsApp message to the woman and her family, giving her triple talaq.

TALAQ I am sending this message in my full sense and I am not under any influence of anger or intoxication. ALLAH as my witness. I, Dr JAVEED KHAN (dob 01/19/1976), son of late Taj Ahmed pronounce TALAQ (Divorce) to RESHMA AZEEZ (dob 12/06/1978), daughter of Mr Azeezuddin, according to ISLAMIC LAW OF SHARIAH, Meher has been completely fulfilled [sic]”.

This comes just two days after the Lok Sabha passed the Triple Talaq Bill, making it a criminal offence that could earn the husband three years imprisonment.