A family court in Delhi has ordered Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan’s ex-wife Aesha Mukerji to return Rs 5.7 million (AU$894,397) she received from an Australian property settlement, ruling that the settlement was obtained through threats and fraud, according to the Bar and Bench.
Justice Devender Kumar Garg of the Patiala House Court declared all settlement documents null and void. The judge found that Dhawan signed the agreements under threats, blackmail, deceit and fraud.
The court ordered Mukerji to pay 9% annual interest on the amount from the date Dhawan filed the suit. Justice Garg ruled that an Australian court had no jurisdiction to deal with the couple’s matrimonial disputes.
AUSTRALIAN COURT ORDERS SET ASIDE
A Delhi court blocked Mukerji from enforcing orders issued by an Australian court in February 2024. The orders split the couple’s global assets, including Dhawan’s property and finances in India.
An Australian court awarded Mukerji 15 percent of the assets. She retained assets of 7.46 million rupees (AU$1.17 million) and was given an additional 15.95 million rupees (AU$2.5 million) from Dhawan, plus the transfer of the property.
Between 2021 and 2024, an Australian court made several orders to divide the couple’s assets. Dhawan argued that these decisions violated Indian marriage laws and sought a declaration that he was not bound by them.
CLAIMS FROM THE OFFER
Dhawan told the Patiala House Court that shortly after their wedding in 2012, Mukerji threatened to spread fabricated and defamatory material to destroy his reputation and cricket career. He claimed to have bought the properties with his own money but was forced to register them under joint names or entirely in her name.
In one case, Mukerji was listed as the 99% owner of a property that Dhawan bought, the court said. After considering the evidence, Justice Garg sided with Dhawan’s arguments and said he was not bound by the orders of the Australian court.
DIVORCE AND CUSTODY
AND A Delhi court granted the couple a divorce in 2023with Dhawan suffering mental trauma after being he kept away from his son Zoravar for years. The court found that Mukerji either chose not to challenge these claims or did not respond properly.
Dhawan has not been granted permanent custody, but has been granted visitation rights and access to video calls in India and Australia, where Mukerji is based. He stated that he was later blocked from all communication with his son.
Dhawan entered into his second marriage with Sophie Shine in a private ceremony on February 22, 2025.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 25, 2026
