Tamil Nadu CM Vijay's wife withdraws divorce petition

The divorce petition filed by Sangeetha Sornalingam, the wife of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, was officially withdrawn on Friday, August 7, 2026, bringing an end to the high-profile legal proceedings. The Chengalpattu district court disposed of the case after Sangeetha informed the judge of her decision during a hearing conducted via video conference from London.

Sangeetha had initially filed for divorce in February 2026, alleging adultery, mental cruelty, neglect, and desertion. Her petition claimed Vijay had been involved in an extramarital relationship with a female actor since 2021, which she stated caused emotional distress and led to the breakdown of their marriage. She further alleged that Vijay had distanced her from his social and professional life and withdrew emotional and financial support. In her filing, Sangeetha sought permanent alimony and requested to remain in the couple's marital home in Chennai's Neelankarai area.

The case had seen multiple adjournments throughout the year, often because neither party appeared in court personally, with their lawyers representing them instead. A hearing scheduled for August 7 was preceded by an adjournment on...