Delhi court finalises cricketer Shikhar Dhawan’s divorce from Aesha Mukerji on grounds of cruelty

A Delhi Court has granted Shikhar Dhawan a divorce, citing that the senior Indian cricketer faced cruelty and mental distress from his estranged wife, Aesha Mukerji, media reports said.

A social media photo of Shikhar Dhawan with his divorced wife Aesha Mukerji in happier times. Photo courtesy: Instagram/ShikharDhawan

The Family Court, located in the Patiala House complex in Delhi, approved the divorce, highlighting that Aesha Mukerji had caused emotional turmoil for Dhawan by compelling him to live separately from his lone son for an extended period, reported India Today.

Judge Harish Kumar acknowledged all the claims made by Dhawan against his wife in the divorce plea, according to the report.

The court's order stated that Dhawan's wife either did not contest the mentioned allegations or failed to provide a defence, it added.

Shikhar Dhawan married Ayesha Mukherjee, who has two daughters from a previous marriage, in October 2012.

Aesha had opened up about the possibility of divorce in a social media post in 2021.

The court also authorised Dhawan to interact with his son and engage in video calls for a reasonable duration, both in India and in Australia where Aesha Mukerji resides, according to the report.

The court ruled that Ayesha must bring their child to India for visitation, allowing for overnight stays with Dhawan and his family for at least half of the school holidays.

The court acknowledged Dhawan's status as a well-known international cricketer, affirming his rights as a citizen and a devoted father, stated the report.

The court also considered the child's entitlement to spend time with his father and extended family, it said.