Actor Celina Jaitly has taken legal action against her estranged husband, Austrian businessman Peter Haag, by filing a domestic violence complaint in a Mumbai court. The case was heard for the first time before a metropolitan magistrate in Andheri, where the court directed both parties to disclose their financial details through income affidavits by January 27. The judge also asked Haag to submit his formal response to the allegations made by the actor.
The complaint, filed under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act in November, details alleged abuse during the couple’s long marriage. Jaitly has sought ₹100 crore as compensation for the alleged harm she endured and has also requested a monthly maintenance amount of ₹10 lakh. The couple married in 2010 in Mumbai and later lived in several countries, including Dubai, Singapore and Austria, due to Haag’s international work commitments.
In her plea, Jaitly has alleged that she faced continuous physical, emotional and verbal mistreatment over the years. She has claimed that her independence—both personal and professional—was gradually taken away. According to the petition, she was discouraged from pursuing acting assignments and was denied direct access to her own income, leaving her financially dependent on her husband. The actor has further alleged that Haag displayed little concern for her well-being or that of their children.
The petition also raises concerns about financial control and misuse. Jaitly has claimed that Haag handled her bank accounts, used her cards in her name, and retained possession of her important personal documents. One of the central disputes involves a Mumbai property that was transferred to Haag through a gift deed in 2019. Jaitly has stated that the document was signed during a period of emotional distress and alleged that the property was later rented out without her consent, generating significant income.
In addition, the actor has accused Haag of selling a jointly owned property in Vienna without keeping her informed. She has alleged that the situation deteriorated further after the family moved to a remote village in Austria, where she felt increasingly isolated. According to her claim, she ultimately left the country with assistance from a neighbour after recovering documents that she says had been withheld from her.
The legal battle in Mumbai coincides with divorce proceedings initiated by Haag in Austria earlier this year. Reports suggest that he blamed Jaitly for the collapse of the marriage. Her legal representatives have said that an Austrian court recently permitted her limited daily phone contact with their children after a period during which communication was allegedly restricted. In her Indian filing, Jaitly has claimed she has been unable to communicate freely with her children since pursuing legal remedies in India.
During the recent hearing, the Andheri court chose to adjourn the matter to allow both sides sufficient time to submit their financial statements and responses. The court has indicated that it will examine the income affidavits before deciding on any interim relief. The case is scheduled to be heard again on January 27, when further arguments are expected to take place.