SC Order IPS Officer To Apologize Publicly In Divorce Settlement Case
Hearing a divorce settlement case of Shivangi Goel, a 2022 batch IPS officer, the Supreme Court granted divorce. It directed her to publish a public ‘unconditional apology’ in newspapers and social media for causing hardship to her estranged husband and in-laws, as part of the settlement.
Reportedly, the women IPS officer was married to Sahib Bansl, a businessman and resident of Delhi, in 2015; a year later, they had a daughter. In 2018, the couple separated, and she filed 15 cases, including domestic violence, cruelty, attempt to murder, unnatural offences, and rape against her in-laws.
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Her husband spent 109 days in jail and her father-in-law 103 days, causing mental and physical harassment to the entire family.
However, investigations and court proceedings have now found no evidence to support her claim. “What they have suffered cannot be resituated or compensated in any manner”, the top court said.
While quashing all the criminal and civil cases filed by the IPS officer, the Supreme Court directed her to publish an unconditional apology to the husband and his family members, in a leading national English and Hindi language newspaper and on her social media as well.
A bench of CJI BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih added that the apology is made to bring an amicable closure to the legal battle, and it shall not be used against her.
As per the court-mandated settlement, the women did not seek alimony or maintenance and instead offered to transfer property owned by her parents to her estranged husband. The three property pieces of land in Aligarh will be transferred by the officer’s mother through a gift deed.
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The apex court granted primary custody of the child to the mother and visitation rights to father. The SC granted police protection to the husband and his family, cautioning the IPS officer to never use her power or any other position to cause any bodily or mental injury to the husband and his family.
In 2022, after clearing the UPSC, she spoke about the alleged abuse and harassment, describing its impact on her and her daughter, which was widely covered by the media.
