Former Bollywood actor Celina Jaitly has filed a domestic violence case against her husband, Austrian businessman Peter Haag, before the Judicial Magistrate First Class in Andheri, Mumbai. The petition, submitted on November 21, resulted in a formal notice being issued to Haag, who resides in Austria. The case, which came up earlier this week before the court of SC Tadye, includes allegations under the Domestic Violence Act involving cruelty, manipulation and abuse.
Jaitly seeks Rs 50 crore in damages for alleged abuse and loss of income
According to the complaint, Jaitly has sought Rs 50 crore in damages, citing the loss of her income, damage to her properties and the long-lasting impact the alleged abuse has had on her personal and professional life. Her legal representation is being handled by Karanjawala & Co. The couple, married since 2010 has three children, Winston, Viraaj and Arthur. Their fourth child, Shamsher, passed away shortly after birth due to a heart condition.
Allegations of emotional, physical and sexual abuse
In her petition, Jaitly describes Haag as a “narcissist” and a “self-absorbed individual” who, she says, displayed no empathy toward her or their children. She alleges that she endured emotional, physical, sexual and verbal abuse throughout their marriage, eventually forcing her to leave their home in Austria and return to India. Jaitly also claims that Haag restricted her from working after the birth of their children, only allowing her to take up small projects with his permission, significantly affecting her financial independence.
Maintenance, custody and protection orders requested
Jaitly has sought Rs 10 lakh per month as maintenance and has requested the court to prevent Haag from entering her Mumbai residence. She is also seeking custody of their children, who currently live with Haag in Austria. The petition notes that Haag filed for divorce in an Austrian court in August 2024, adding further complexity to the legal situation between the estranged couple.
Fight for brother’s release in the UAE
Apart from her domestic violence case, Jaitly is also fighting a separate battle concerning her brother, Major (retired) Vikrant Jaitly. She alleges he has been ‘illegally abducted and detained’ in the United Arab Emirates since September 2024. According to her plea, the Ministry of External Affairs has not been able to provide basic information regarding his health or legal status. A Delhi court recently directed authorities to facilitate communication between Vikrant, his family and Celina.
As the legal proceedings move forward, the court will now decide the next steps following the issuance of notice to Peter Haag.
