West Bengal / Nusrat claims her marriage is invalid, says she separated from Nikhil long back

Kolkata: Trinamool MP Nusrat Jahan on Wednesday issued a statement saying her marriage with Nikhil Jain was never valid as an interfaith marriage in India requires validation under the Special Marriage Act, which never happened. As the marriage was not legal, valid and tenable, there is no question of divorce, she clarified. "Our separation happened long back, but I did not speak about it as I intended to keep my private life to myself," the Basirhat MP said.

Actor-turned-politician Nusrat Jahan got married to businessman Nikhil Jain in Bodrum of Turkey in 2019 after she made her political debut, winning the Lok Sabha Elections in the same year. A reception was also held in Kolkata which chief minister Mamata Banerjee attended. The wedding ceremony was done as per Turkish Marriage Regulation, the MP clarified.

Of late, speculations of a rift in the marriage have been rife as reports claimed Nusrat started dating fellow actor-politician Yash Dasgupta, who was a BJP candidate in the 2021 election in Bengal. A few days ago, rumours of Nusrat expecting Yash's child started doing the rounds in media and on various social media platforms to which writer Taslima Nasreen commented in a long Facebook post, where she said if the rumour is true, then Nusrat should get divorced from Nikhil.

While Nusrat's statement clarifies her stance on the "marriage", without naming Nikhil, she accused him of mishandling her money. "The one who claims to be “rich” and “been used by me” has been taking money from my account by accessing my bank accounts illegally and by illegitimate means at odd hours of the night, even post-separation. I have already taken this up with the concerned banking authority and a police complaint shall be filed shortly. In the past, details of all family accounts were handed over to him, upon his requests and none of me or my family members was aware of any instructions given to the bank via our accounts. He has also been mishandling my funds from various accounts without my knowledge and consent. I am still battling it out with the bank & if need be, would release proof of the same," the statement read. The MP also alleged that his family members have illegally held back her assets, the jewellery given to her by her patents.

"I would never speak up about my personal life or anyone I am not related to. Thus, people who call themselves “normal people” must not entertain anything which is not related to them," Nusrat said.

Nikhil Jain is a Kolkata-baed businessman and the duo met in Kolkata during an event, a year before they got married. Recently, as the rumours of Nusrat's pregnancy spread, some news channels contacted Nikhil who said he was not aware of Nusrat's pregnancy as they were not in contact for many months.

On being asked to comment on Nusrat's statement, Nikhil Jain on Wednesday said the matter is subjudice. "I have never commented or will not comment anything on what she has said. The matter is subjudice in court. The civil suit in courts is in process. They are doing their job well," Nikhil told Hindustan Times.