In a rare instance of solidarity - at least going by popular perception - a mother deposed against her son in a court of law, and helped her daughter-in-law get alimony in a divorce case.

A Bengaluru family court ordered late Congress Minister SR Kashappanavar’s son Devanand to pay his 25-year-old ex-wife a permanent alimony of Rs 4.85 crore, while dissolving their marriage.

The Fifth Additional Principal Family Court Judge noted that the petitioner was eligible for divorce as they have been living separately for close to four and a half years.

The petitioner and Devanand (the petitioner's maternal uncle), had married on May 22, 2011 at Hungund taluk of Bagalkot district.

The petitioner told the court that Devanand had married her only to respect the late Minister’s wishes, and had an extra-marital affair.

According to the petition, Devanand stayed at the other woman’s house for the most part. When his wife confronted it, he was allegedly violent towards her and verbally abused her. This was when the petitioner moved the court for a divorce.   

In her petition, she mentioned that she was treated like a stranger by her husband after tying the knot, although he was cordial with her weeks prior to their marriage.

According to the petitioner and her mother-in-law, Devanand had married the other woman illegally against the wishes of the elders of the family and has a child with the woman.  

According to The New Indian Express, the mother-in-law, who is also the petitioner’s grandmother, said, “Devanand has vast extent of lands, drives a Mercedes Benz SUV costing more than a crore, owns quarry business and is therefore well off. Without performing his marital obligations, Devanand deserted his wife.”