A Pakistani woman, Nikita Nagdev, has issued a public video appeal seeking justice from Prime Minister Narendra Modi after alleging that her husband abandoned her in Karachi and began preparing for a second marriage in Delhi. The case has triggered outrage across social groups in both India and Pakistan, drawing attention to complex cross-border marital disputes and gaps in legal protections.

Marriage in Karachi, return to India and abrupt separation

Nikita said she married Vikram Nagdev, a Pakistani-origin man living in Indore on a long-term Indian visa, on 26 January 2020 in Karachi under Hindu customs. She travelled to India with him on 26 February, expecting to begin her married life in Indore.

However, according to Nikita, her circumstances changed rapidly. She alleged that Vikram abandoned her on 9 July 2020 at the Attari border, citing a “visa technicality”, and sent her back to Pakistan without further explanation. Since then, she says he has made no attempt to bring her back to India despite repeated requests.

In an emotional video message from Karachi, Nikita said, “If justice is not served today, women will lose faith in justice. Many girls face physical and mental abuse in their marital homes. I request everyone to stand with me.”

Allegations of infidelity and mistreatment

Nikita also claimed that shortly after their wedding, she discovered her husband was in a relationship with one of her relatives. When she raised the issue with her father-in-law, she was allegedly told, “Boys have affairs, nothing can be done.”

She further alleged that during the COVID-19 lockdown, Vikram pressured her to return to Pakistan and has since refused to facilitate her re-entry into India. “Every woman deserves justice in India,” she said.

Once she was back in Karachi, Nikita said she learned that Vikram was preparing to marry a woman in Delhi despite their existing marriage.

Complaint filed and mediation attempts

Distressed by the developments, Nikita filed a written complaint on 27 January 2025. The matter reached the Sindhi Panch Mediation and Legal Counsel Centre, an organisation authorised by the Madhya Pradesh High Court to mediate family disputes.

Notices were issued to Vikram and his alleged fiancée, and a hearing was convened. However, mediation efforts failed. In its 30 April 2025 report, the Centre concluded that because neither spouse is an Indian citizen, the dispute falls under Pakistan’s jurisdiction. It recommended that Vikram be deported to Pakistan, where personal and marital laws governing the couple would apply.

Case resurfaces in Indore

This is not the first time the dispute has surfaced locally. In May 2025, Nikita approached the Indore Social Panchayat, which also recommended Vikram’s deportation. Following this, Indore Collector Ashish Singh confirmed that an official inquiry had been ordered and that action would be taken once the report is completed.

The case remains complicated by legal, diplomatic and jurisdictional boundaries, especially with one partner residing in India and the other in Pakistan. Social groups on both sides have urged authorities to ensure that Nikita’s grievances are examined fairly and that legal processes prioritise her safety and marital rights.

Calls for justice and cross-border accountability

Nikita’s video has sparked widespread discussion on the vulnerabilities faced by women in cross-border marriages, particularly when documentation, visa mobility and legal access are controlled by the husband’s country. Activists say such cases require coordinated intervention from both governments to prevent abandonment, exploitation and forced separation.

As her appeal continues to circulate online, Nikita says she hopes that Indian authorities will step in. “I only want justice,” she said. “No other woman should face this.”