FAMILY

Elderly couple sues son and daughter-in-law for failing to provide a grandchild

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An elderly couple in India is suing their son and daughter-in-law for something as bizarre as failing to produce a grandchild for them. Sanjiv Ranjan Prasad and his wife Sadhana Prasad are seeking almost $6.5 million from the couple if they aren’t able to have a baby within the next year.

But that’s not all. The resident of Haridwar city in the northern state of Uttarakhand has cited financial struggles for suing his son. Sanjiv claims that money woes began after his son got married in 2016 and his daughter-in-law’s family took control of the couple’s finances.

While Sanjiv and his wife have wished for a grandkid since their son’s wedding, they alleged that their in-laws, who allegedly have dominance over their son’s money, have prevented the pair from having a child. “We didn’t care about gender, just wanted a grandchild,” said Sanjiv who is desperate to have a grandchild.

Sanjiv went on to claim that he had used up all his money to pay for his son’s education in the U.S. and took out several loans to help for his wedding later. Now he and his wife is undergoing financial crisis. “I gave my son all my money, got him trained in America. I don’t have any money now. We have taken a loan from the bank to build a house. We’re troubled financially and personally (sic),” he explained according to the Independent.

“We have demanded Rs. 25m ($323,063) each from the son and the daughter-in-law,” noted Sanjiv who filed a petition on May 7 claiming that he had spent almost Rs. 20million ($315,677), something that is more than the pair could afford, to raise their only child. Sanjiv took out a hefty loan to purchase an expensive car for the newly wed couple and even paid Rs. 5,00,000 ($6,458) for their honeymoon in Thailand, according to the petition.

But despite this, their son – who is a commercial airline pilot – moved to the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, bought a home in his wife’s name, and then ceased all communication with them. When Sanjiv pushed his son for a grandchild, the couple allegedly “pretended” to be separated which was convenient as both live in different cities due to their work.

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AK Srivastava, the lawyer representing Sanjiv and his wife, stated that the elderly pair are seeking compensation for not only financial loss but also emotional. “The couple has the freedom to not give birth to a child, which is why we are asking to be compensated. The amount is just given the money Mr Prasad has spent on his son’s upbringing,” he said, adding, “Such new cases are important as they lead to the formation of new laws.”

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Cover image source: YouTube Screenshot | Times Of India