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The Smile says it all: Kumar Jaghirdar poses for a pretty picture with his daughter file pic |
Kumar Jahgirdar has moved a family court in Bangalore to get his only child back.
"She is now 13, and wants to live with me," he told MiD DAY.
Jahgirdar is childless, and his former wife Chetana has two children from Anil Kumble.
"In 2003, the court gave primary custody of our child to Chetana, as she was just eight years old. But the court should now heed the girl's request," said Jahgirdar.
He and Chetana Ramatheertha had been married for 13 years since 1986, and were divorced by mutual consent. Chetana married Kumble two months after she got a divorce.
The couple fought a legal battle for primary custody of their only child, and it went all the way up to the Supreme Court. Jahgirdar lost, but the court said the child should spend her weekends and half her vacations with him.
The court felt the girl should spend more time with the mother as there was no woman in Kumar's house to look after her. The judge said the father could ask for modifications should the circumstances change. Jahgirdar is married again, and is seeking a review under the "changed circumstances" clause.
Dad's wife a doc
The family court has ordered examination of the evidence, but the Kumbles have obtained a stay.
The Kumbles leave the child with him when they go abroad for Test matches, Jahgirdar's petition says.
"They feel I am the right person to look after her. But they take her back once they return," he said.
Jahgirdar believes he can take care of the child well as his present wife, a doctor, is good friends with her. If given custody, he offers to send the child to the Kumbles every weekend.
He also states she feels uncomfortable living with her stepfather.
On Lanka tour
Anil Kumble is away in Chennai, preparing for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, and was not available for comment.
His lawyer C V Nagesh told MiD DAY, "Jahgirdar can go to court... but all the charges he is making against the Kumble family are false."
"They are looking after the girl very well. Anil calls her his first daughter. She has all the freedom in the house. I meet her at least once a week and I see her very happy," he said.
We're happy
Anil Kumble's wife Chetana preferred not to comment on her former husband Kumar Jahgirdar's petition.
"The problem has already been solved in court. Please don't mistake me... I don't want to comment on it. We are happy as a family. My daughter is happy. She will always be happy with me," she told MiD DAY over the phone.
1986: Chetana marries Kumar Jahgirdar
2000: They are divorced, and Chetana marries Anil Kumble
2003: Supreme Court grants her custody of her eight-year-old daughter
2007: Kumar files for review of custodial rights
2008: Kumbles get a stay, but Kumar wants it vacated
