In the video released by advocate Kirti Ahuja, who is the claimed victim’s elder sister, screenshots of text messages, audio recordings and a video are used to show the rocky and allegedly abusive relationship between the advocate general and the junior advocate who practises at the Punjab & Haryana High Court. The video also tries to prove the unhealthy power dynamic between the two due to their age difference and their relative professional statures.
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IN a video recently released online, an advocate is seen levelling serious allegations of an ongoing extramarital affair between the Advocate General (AG) of Punjab Vinod Ghai and advocate Kanika Ahuja, who worked at his office.
In the video, Kanika’s sister, advocate Kirti Ahuja, describes in detail through screenshots of text messages, audio recordings and a video, the rocky and allegedly abusive relationship between Ghai and Kanika, who practises at the Punjab & Haryana High Court. The video also tries to prove the unhealthy power dynamic between the two due to their age difference and their relative professional statures.
“Either she is scared herself, or she is scaring us with the AG’s power [to stop us from interfering]”, Kirti says at one point during her monologue, and requests the Punjab government that her family be given police protection.
Recordings reveal abusive nature of relationship
In the video, Kirti shows text messages allegedly sent by Kanika to her father, possibly after her parents developed an inkling about the matter. The text messages read: “All you’ve done is fight me, and say that I’m wrong. You haven’t asked me once if I’m being forced or pestered by someone or that you’ll support me if I wish to get out” (translated from Hindi).
The text continues, “That person has been harassing me by over-possessiveness. I have tried so many ways to get out of it. I may have also developed some closeness but I never wanted this kind of possessiveness and relationship which he is trying with me.
“You are right, he is Mr Ghai. And I am assuring you that I will not work with him or be related to him now onwards. I will not take his calls or reply to his msg”.
Kirti then describes other conversations that she has had with Kanika, in which she quotes her sister saying, “Even if I talk to another man, even for work-related matters at the court, Ghai gets irritated and gives me a hard time.”
To confirm the above, the recording of a conversation purported to be between Ghai and Kanika is then played. Ghai can be heard saying, “If I see any man watching you, mereko aag lagti hai” (I get riled up).” Kanika’s tone in that recording is defensive and meek.
A video reportedly secretly shot by Kanika is then unveiled, in which Ghai can be seen towering over her, apparently annoyed. “Mereko irritation hai aur rahegi bas. Baat khatam” (I get irritated and it will remain like that. Matter closed).
In another recording, which Kirti says is from a time when the “relationship” had not been apparent to the family, Ghai is heard saying “Koi kuch kahega na, mai chhodunga ni. Mai maar dunga. Chahe Kirti ho” (If anyone says anything, I won’t spare them. I’ll kill them. Even if it’s your sister Kirti).
Immediately after this, the recording of a conversation allegedly between Kirti and her sister is played, in which Kanika can be heard crying, “Mujhe sabse zyada dukh hota he ki maine kabhi socha bhi nahi tha ki mereko Ghai se darna padega … Mujhe Ghai ko chhodna hai, Didi, but mujhe thodi si mushkil ho rahi hai” (What saddens me the most is that I never thought I would have to be scared of Ghai … I want to leave Ghai, sister, but it is difficult), and requests her sister for a sympathetic hearing, indicating that the relation within the family had gotten strained.
Kirti claims she is in possession of several videos sent by her sister proving that Ghai was in an extra-marital affair with Kanika, but does not reveal their content, possibly to protect her sister’s privacy.
At one point in the video, Kirti says she and her parents tried to visit Ghai’s house to confront him and to apprise his wife of the matter, but Kanika stopped them in advance, saying, “Aap iss raaste se hat jao” (You don’t interfere in this), Kirti quotes her sister as having said.
For want of a child
Kirti claims that Ghai wanted to have a baby with Kanika, and presents two screenshots of WhatsApp conversations between Ghai and Kanika as evidence of the same.
Around half-way through the video, it is claimed that Kanika told her sister that the relationship had progressed far and it would be tough to end it. A picture is shown of Ghai and Kanika together, with the latter wearing a ring on the third finger of her right hand.
‘Why I am making this video’
It is claimed in the video that Kanika stopped her parents and sister from confronting Ghai a second time saying, “Bahut bura anjaam hoga” (The consequences will be bad).
Kirti says her sister warned that there could be adverse consequences of letting Ghai know that Kanika’s parents are in the know about the matter, or revealing it elsewhere. She quotes her sister, “Our parents might be found dead under mysterious circumstances and it will never be found who killed them; or a member of the family might be killed in an accident; or the professional careers of her or her brother may be destroyed; or fake cases may be registered against the family.”
Kirti says she then asked her sister, “Should we then spend our lives in fear? And allow you to be in an illegal relationship? We will not allow this … If you wish to continue this relationship, then you must cut off all relations with the family. You must get it published in the newspaper that you have no relation with us.”
Doubt is expressed over whether “Kanika is herself scared or is scaring us [to stop us from interfering].” Kirti then avers that she knows “how these relationships end. She might come back and poison all of us… I can’t let this happen and this is why I’m making this video. So that the truth about their illegal relationship is revealed.”
Kirti presents the video as her attempt to create a permanent record of events, to avoid her family suffering the possibilities described above, and so her father is prevented from committing suicide. The video is watermarked with the words ‘SAVE MY FATHER’.
She requests that her family be given State protection, but adds, “if Kanika Ahuja isn’t able to completely separate from Vinod Ghai, then I’ll fight for my family… For this, I request the Punjab government to remove Ghai as the AG of the State.
“Because if we are to go to war with Ghai, then it must be an equal fight. He is powerful, I am not. He might use his powers in any way he deems fit… Otherwise, Ghai must leave Kanika completely.”
On Monday, Punjab’s Leader of Opposition, the Indian National Congress’ Partap Singh Bajwa wrote to Governor Banwarilal Purohit, urging him to remove Ghai from the office of Advocate General of the state with immediate effect and order a probe into the allegations of “misconduct” against him.
