31-year-old woman fabricates husband's signatures on divorce documents

THANE: Nilofer, a 31-year-old resident of Mumbra had an affair with her ex boyfriend while her husband was working in the UAE. Nilofer was married to Yusuf Sherif Mastan, and has a nine-year-old son. She had forged her husband's signature on the divorce documents and married her old boyfriend while Mastan was in the UAE, unaware.

SB Shinde, the investigation officer of Mumbra police station said, "The 31-year-old Mukri made up those signatures on the divorce documents, married her boyfriend and decamped with Mastan's money. Mastan is employed in the UAE as a mechanic since 2007 and he would diligently send money to her. He had saved up enough to buy a small place in Mumbra, where Nilofer stayed with her son. During his long absences, she reconnected with her old boyfriend and would splurge on him. Once when he (Mastan) was in India, he spotted a change in his wife's behavior: she would always be on phone with a man. Upon enquiry, she brushed him aside and said she was talking to her friend," said Shinde.

The issue ran its course when Mastan had returned home in 2017 and Nilofer refused to meet him, even denying him access to their house. "With no options to stay, he shifted to a lodge at Shilphata and after making some discreet enquiries, he learnt that the house had been sold off for Rs 32 lakh and the money handed over to his wife," the officer said.

Saying it was merely a document stating they would stay separately for a brief period to give time for the marriage to work, a lawyer sought to mediate and reportedly obtained his signature on stamp paper. Mastan then flew back to Dubai. When he returned earlier this year, he was shown divorce papers bearing his signature and dated sometime in April 2017, at the time when he was working abroad. "It is a clear case of cheating and impersonation as he was not in India on the date on which the divorce papers are signed. We have verified his passport documents, visa papers, etc and it is clear he landed in India only after that date. Charges of cheating, forgery and marrying again while spouse is alive have been filed," said the police officer.

If convicted, Nilofer will face up to seven years in jail. In fear of being arrested, Nilofer filed for anticipatory bail in the Thane sessions court, which was rejected. She has now been moved to the High Court of Bombay, where there will be a hearing in June.