Actor Celina Jaitly has filed a domestic violence complaint against her Austrian husband, Peter Haag, alleging years of “severe emotional, physical, sexual and verbal abuse.” The application, filed before a local court through Karanjwala & Co., accuses Haag of cruelty, manipulation, coercion and financial control under provisions of the Domestic Violence Act.
Celina escaped from Austria
Celina’s lawyer, Niharika Karanjawala, said the violence “lasted many years spanning through their marriage,” and included “physical cruelty, manipulation, emotional and verbal violence.” She added that the abuse continued “practically through the entirety of their marriage,” with Haag allegedly flying into rages, violently assaulting the actress, and threatening her repeatedly.
The couple’s children, who are citizens of Austria, are currently with their father. Celina’s legal team has sought `custody and continuous access`, but Karanjawala explained that the actress had to flee alone. “She practically had to escape and run to India with nothing. She wasn’t in a position to bring her children. She feared her husband might make out a case of kidnapping, which could have permanently harmed her custody case.”
Financial control and disputed gift deed
Alongside the domestic violence complaint, a parallel civil case is underway in Mumbai over a property Celina purchased in 2004. According to Karanjawala, Haag allegedly coerced Celina—during a period of grief and depression in 2017 following the deaths of both her parents and one of her newborns—into signing a “gift deed” transferring the Mumbai property to him.
“Shortly after she executed the gift deed, he had the rental transferred to his account,” the lawyer said, adding that Celina later discovered Haag had also sold a jointly-owned Vienna property without informing her. Fearing he would do the same with the Mumbai home, Celina confronted him. “He filed divorce proceedings shortly thereafter,” Karanjawala stated.
Forced to give up her career
The lawyer revealed that Celina was forced to not continue her career. Despite a successful career with films such as No Entry and Golmaal Returns, Celina was allegedly pressured to quit acting and relocate repeatedly to Dubai, Singapore, and later to a remote Austrian town to support her husband`s career.
“He prevented her from working,” said Karanjawala, adding that the actress is also seeking compensation for “unrealised potential profits” from the flourishing career she was forced to abandon. Jaitly has sought a direction that her estranged husband pay a sum of Rs 50 crore as compensation and Rs 10 lakh per month as maintenance.
Divorce case in Austria
A divorce proceeding filed by Haag is currently underway in Austria. Celina had appealed for a mutual settlement, but “he was not willing,” her lawyer said. The court has issued notice to Haag in the domestic violence case, and Jaitly’s legal team hopes he will appear before the court on December 12.