A sessions court in Bombay on August 21 allowed former tennis ace Leander Paes’ plea to condone the delay in filing the appeal against his ex-live-in partner, actress Rhea Pillai, subject to payment of Rs. 20,000 to her within a month of the order. The judge said, “After payment of cost, the Criminal Appeal be registered in accordance with law.”
In February 2022, the magistrate’s court had held that Paes had committed various acts of domestic violence against Rhea. The court had directed him to pay a monthly rent of Rs. 50,000 to Rhea Pillai on the condition that she would leave his flat at Carter Road, Bandra West in Bombay within two months.
In December last year, Paes had moved the sessions court against the magistrate’s February 2022 order directing him to pay a monthly maintenance of Rs. 1 lakh to Rhea, his live-in partner and mother of his daughter. He pointed out to the sessions court that no relationship existed between them when model and actress Rhea Pillai had moved the domestic violence complaint in 2014.
In a plea moved by his advocates, it was submitted that there was a genuine reason and cause for the time taken in filing the plea and there was no intention to cause delay. “The respondent is not prejudiced in any way at all if this application is granted,” the plea said, adding, “However, if reliefs are refused to the applicant, the applicant will lose his right to file the appeal.”