HISAR: Virender Verma and Meena got the shock of their lives when a local court recently stated that the happily-together couple got a 'divorce' 10 years ago.

Married in 1989 and parents of two children, the two came to know about their separation on May 26. The couple accused Virender's advocate brother for forging their divorce documents.

"The matter came to our notice when Meena filed a petition under Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 against her in-laws. The respondents informed the protection officer that Meena wasn't entitled to file the petition since she had divorced me," Virender told TOI.

He has been recuperating from a back injury since 2000 and the family depends on Meena's meagre income she earns by way of doing embroidery work.

"The 'divorce' case pertains to when Meena and I were contemplating filing a criminal complaint against my brother and parents for cruelty and harassment for dowry. It seems the 'divorce' was doctored to defeat Meena's possible complaint," Virender added.

The couple moved the district sessions court under section 340 CrPC, praying action for false evidence, fabricating evidence and forgery against several persons, including Surinder Verma and four advocates who represented the parties in the divorce proceedings.

The court has adjourned the hearing till July 19. Surinder Verma denied the allegations.

"Virender has a property dispute with his parents and has been living separately. We never tried to fabricate their divorce documents. I am going to sue Virender, Meena and their advocate for defamation," he said.

On April 15, Meena filed a petition under section 18 of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act against her father-in-law Ram Gopal, mother-in-law Parvati, brother-in-law Rajiv, besides advocate Surinder Verma. Additional chief judicial magistrate, Hisar, JB Gupta referred the matter to protection officer Poonam Raman.

When protection officer Poonam Raman called the opposite party to present its reply, Surinder reportedly produced a court document claiming Meena was no longer Virender's wife. "A perusal of court records revealed that a petition for restoration of conjugal rights under section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act was filed on behalf of Virender Verma against Meena in the court of district judge, Hisar" said the couple's counsel.