Actor and former Miss India Celina Jaitly has approached a Mumbai court seeking substantial financial relief in a domestic violence case filed against her estranged husband, Austrian hotelier Peter Haag. The matter came up for its first hearing before a metropolitan magistrate’s court in Andheri on Friday, where the judge directed both parties to submit detailed income affidavits by January 27. The court also instructed Haag to file his response to Jaitly’s complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.
Jaitly filed the case in November, alleging that she was subjected to prolonged physical, verbal and emotional abuse throughout their 15-year-long marriage. Represented by the law firm Karanjawala & Company, the actor has sought compensation amounting to ₹100 crore and monthly maintenance of ₹10 lakh. The couple tied the knot in Mumbai in 2010 and lived in multiple countries, including India, Dubai, Singapore and Austria, due to Haag’s professional commitments.
In her petition, Jaitly has claimed that she was gradually stripped of her financial autonomy and personal dignity through what she described as sustained coercive control. She alleged that Haag restricted her acting assignments and professional opportunities, blocked her access to her own earnings, and forced her into financial dependence. The complaint further characterises Haag as emotionally indifferent and unsupportive towards both her and their children.
The actor has also raised serious allegations of financial misconduct. According to her petition, Haag allegedly misused her bank accounts and payment cards while claiming he was managing household expenses. She further accused him of controlling her personal documents and passport. A key point of contention in the case is a gift deed executed in 2019, through which Jaitly’s Mumbai flat was transferred to Haag. She has claimed the deed was signed during a period when she was mentally vulnerable and alleged that Haag later rented out the property without her consent, earning around ₹1.26 crore.
Additionally, Jaitly has alleged that Haag sold a jointly owned property in Vienna without informing her. She has claimed that the situation worsened after the family relocated to a small village in Austria, where she allegedly faced increased isolation and abuse. According to her statement, she eventually managed to leave Austria with the assistance of a neighbour after recovering personal documents that had allegedly been withheld.
The domestic violence case in Mumbai runs parallel to legal proceedings in Austria. Earlier this year, Haag reportedly filed for divorce in an Austrian court, holding Jaitly responsible for the breakdown of the marriage. Her legal team has stated that the Austrian court recently granted her limited daily telephonic access to their children following a period during which communication was allegedly cut off. In her Indian petition, Jaitly has claimed she has been denied contact with her children since initiating legal action in Mumbai.
The Andheri court has adjourned the matter for now, allowing time for the submission of financial disclosures and Haag’s reply to the allegations. The judge has indicated that clarity on the financial standing of both parties is necessary before considering any interim relief. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 27.
