PTI
MUMBAI, Nov 20: Rahul Mahajan, son of Bharatiya Janata Party leader, the late Pramod Mahajan, is again in the news for the wrong reasons after a Mumbai daily reported that his two-and-half month marriage with Shweta was on the rocks after allegations of his "relentless physical and verbal abuse" of her, a charge both have strongly denied.
Mid-Day reported on Monday that Rahul regularly beat up the former pilot whom he had married after his father's death and in the midst of a legal battle over drug abuse. The story was accompanied by a photograph that showed Shweta with a bruise on her right arm.
Denying the report, Mahajan told PTI, "this is totally baseless. We are both shocked at this news report. In fact, this is invasion of privacy. They are not even bothered to take our reaction before making these allegations."
Shweta, who was in Dehradun said over the telephone that "all these allegations are totally baseless. I sustained some bruises when I was trying to ride a bicycle and fell down. Please respect our privacy."
"I am in Dehradun on a planned holiday and not because I had a fight with my husband. Do not read anything into this", she added.
On the accompanying photograph in media which showed Shweta with bruised hand, Rahul said, "photographs like this can be doctored using all kinds of software. This is not true.
"Shweta is in Dehradun and on her return we will discuss the matter and contemplate some action," Rahul said.
"Our family has been constantly hit by some crises in the last few months but we will face it," Rahul said.
Shweta said her visit to Dehradun should not be linked to any possibility of marital discord. “It is a planned holiday to my parents house in Doon. My parents are arranging a party to celebrate my marriage on Saturday and Rahul is also taking part in the party. My purpose is also to assist my parents in the arrangements".
She said her family is annoyed with the newspaper report. "Rahul and his mother are also disturbed with the development," she said adding Rahul had informed her this morning that he is going to file a suit against the newspaper that carried such "baseless" reports.
Shweta's parents denied any rift between her and Rahul and said the couple had talked to each other.
"Rahul is coming here (Dehradun).I have spoken to him. Shweta also spoke to him. They don't know what is behind this," Shweta's father Brig (retd) HC Singh said.
Enemies of the Mahajan family have spread such rumours, he said adding many people were opposed to his daughter's marriage to Rahul.
Her mother said Shweta injured herself while riding a cycle with the daughters of her elder sister.
"The reports are false. She hurt herself when she was riding a cycle. I was there with them then," her mother said.