Tamil Nadu CM Vijay’s Wife Withdraws Divorce Plea, Court Closes Case

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay’s wife Sangeetha has withdrawn her divorce petition from a family court in Chengalpattu, bringing an unexpected turn to the case that had attracted attention after being filed earlier this year.

Sangeetha appeared before the Chengalpattu family court through video-conferencing on Friday and informed the court that she did not wish to pursue the divorce proceedings. After considering her submission, the court disposed of the petition as withdrawn, official court sources said.

The development comes months after Sangeetha had approached the court seeking dissolution of her marriage with Vijay under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.

In her petition, she had alleged that Vijay was involved in an extra-marital relationship with an actress and accused him of subjecting her to "persistent mental cruelty, neglect and desertion". She had also stated that she could implead the actress as a second respondent if required.

Sangeetha had claimed that the marriage had broken down irretrievably, alleging that Vijay had emotionally withdrawn from her since 2021. She further alleged that he had treated her with verbal disdain and subjected her to what she described as "constructive desertion", forcing her to live separately within their matrimonial home.

The withdrawal of the petition means the court will not proceed with the divorce case in its present form.

Vijay, one of Tamil Nadu's biggest film stars, stepped away from his highly successful acting career to focus on politics and became the state's Chief Minister.

According to the divorce petition, Sangeetha and Vijay first registered their marriage in the United Kingdom on July 10, 1998. A ceremonial wedding was subsequently held in Chennai on August 25, 1999.

With Sangeetha now withdrawing the petition, the latest development marks a significant change in the legal proceedings surrounding the couple's marriage.