Karachi resident Nikita Nagdev, a Pakistani woman, has become the focus of a complex cross-border dispute involving marriage, alleged abandonment, and legal jurisdiction issues. Nikita has now appealed for intervention at the highest level, including the Prime Minister of India, as she alleges that her husband, Vikram Nagdev, is planning a second marriage in Delhi despite their existing marriage being legally valid. The case, which has been ongoing for several years, exposes not only the emotional and personal struggles faced by individuals in cross-border relationships but also the bureaucratic and legal complexities when the parties involved hail from different countries.

Nikita Nagdev claims that her marriage to Vikram Nagdev, a man of Pakistani origin residing in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on a long-term Indian visa, has left her stranded and without support. According to Nikita, the two married on January 26, 2020, in Karachi following Hindu matrimonial customs. Soon after the wedding, Vikram brought her to India on February 26, 2020, ostensibly to begin their married life together. However, Nikita asserts that shortly after arriving in India, her life changed abruptly, marking the beginning of what she describes as a harrowing period of emotional abuse and neglect.

Nikita alleges that her in-laws were unsupportive and that she faced repeated mistreatment. She further claims that she discovered Vikram was engaged in an extramarital relationship with one of her relatives. These revelations, according to Nikita, compounded the emotional distress she was experiencing and left her feeling betrayed and abandoned. In an effort to maintain the marriage, she repeatedly requested Vikram to communicate with her and facilitate her return to India when circumstances forced her to go back to Pakistan, but according to her account, he consistently refused.

The situation escalated on July 9, 2020, when Nikita claims she was forcibly sent back to Karachi from the Attari border under the pretext of a “visa technicality.” She asserts that this was done under false pretenses, and Vikram made no effort to assist her in returning to India. Following her return to Pakistan, she alleges that her in-laws’ behavior changed drastically, further isolating her. During this period, she discovered that Vikram’s affair continued and that he was planning to remarry despite their ongoing marital bond. Nikita has described the experience as deeply traumatic, noting the emotional and mental toll it has taken on her.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, the situation reportedly worsened. Nikita states that Vikram repeatedly pressured her to return to Pakistan, and once she complied, he allegedly blocked her re-entry to India. This, she argues, left her without legal recourse in India and vulnerable to being completely separated from her marital home and the life she had anticipated. In her statements and a video message shared publicly, Nikita has emphasized that her plight is not just personal but indicative of a broader pattern of abuse and neglect that women can face in cross-border marriages. She asserts that “every woman deserves justice,” underscoring her demand for a fair resolution.

In response to Vikram’s alleged plans to marry another woman in Delhi, Nikita filed a written complaint on January 27, 2025. This complaint initiated a series of legal and mediation efforts intended to resolve the dispute. The matter was examined by the Sindhi Panch Mediation and Legal Counsel Centre, a body authorized by the Madhya Pradesh High Court to facilitate dispute resolution. Notices were sent to Vikram and the woman he was reportedly engaged to, and a hearing was held. Despite these efforts, mediation failed to produce a resolution, leaving the matter unresolved and prompting Nikita to seek higher-level intervention.

The Centre, in its April 30, 2025 report, concluded that neither Nikita nor Vikram is an Indian citizen. Therefore, it determined that the dispute falls under the jurisdiction of Pakistan. The panel recommended that Vikram be deported to Pakistan, highlighting the cross-border complications inherent in such cases. This finding, however, has not resolved the matter for Nikita, who remains in Karachi and claims that her husband continues to plan actions in India that disregard her legal marital status.

The case had previously surfaced in Indore as well. In May 2025, Nikita approached the Indore Social Panchayat, which also recommended Vikram’s deportation. The local administration, including Indore Collector Ashish Singh, confirmed that an inquiry had been initiated and stated that action would be taken based on the findings of this inquiry. The repeated recommendations for deportation underscore the complexities of enforcing marital rights and legal responsibilities when the individuals involved reside in different countries and hold different citizenships.

Nikita’s case has drawn attention to several broader issues surrounding cross-border marriages between Pakistan and India, particularly in the context of long-term visas and residency arrangements. The emotional and psychological stress faced by women like Nikita highlights the vulnerabilities they may encounter when legal frameworks are unclear or unenforceable across national boundaries. Additionally, the case raises questions about the responsibilities of spouses, the rights of women in cross-border marriages, and the role of government authorities in facilitating justice.

In her public statements, Nikita has emphasized that her appeal is not only for herself but for all women who might face similar abuse or neglect. She underscores that women who experience physical or emotional abuse in their marital homes require support and protection, and that justice must be accessible to them irrespective of international borders. By seeking intervention from the highest authorities, including the Prime Minister, Nikita is attempting to bring international attention to her plight and to urge the Indian government to consider the humanitarian aspects of her case, alongside the legal technicalities.

The situation also illustrates the challenges of navigating legal systems when marriage, immigration, and residency are intertwined across national jurisdictions. While Indian authorities have pointed out that the matter technically falls under Pakistani jurisdiction, Nikita’s appeal to India’s Prime Minister highlights the limitations of purely legal approaches in cases where human rights, marital obligations, and cross-border complications intersect. Her case has therefore emerged not only as a personal struggle but also as a discussion point on cross-border legal reform and protections for women in similar circumstances.

In conclusion, Nikita Nagdev’s story reflects the deeply personal and bureaucratic difficulties faced by women in cross-border marriages. From alleged mistreatment and abuse to deportation issues and the threat of her husband’s second marriage, her situation is emblematic of the challenges posed by international boundaries in personal legal matters. Despite mediation efforts and administrative interventions, her case remains unresolved, prompting her to seek intervention from the highest level of authority in India. Nikita’s appeal is both a plea for justice and a broader call for systemic safeguards to protect women who may find themselves in similarly precarious situations, highlighting the ongoing need for cross-border cooperation and legal clarity in resolving marital disputes.