A complex legal dispute involving two men, one from Rajasthan and another from Jammu and Kashmir, who both claim to be married to the same woman, has emerged. The case has drawn the attention of two separate High Courts, with each man filing a petition in his respective state, Bhaskar reported.
The woman at the center of the controversy, identified as Shakeela Akhtar from south Kashmir’s Anantnag, is currently untraceable. Despite extensive efforts by the Rajasthan Police, including a search operation in her home district, her whereabouts remain unknown.
The case originated when Jitendra Singh, a resident of Didwana-Kuchaman district in Rajasthan, filed a habeas corpus petition before the Principal Bench of the Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur. In his plea, Jitendra claimed he married Shakeela on February 16, 2025, in Firozpur, Punjab. He supported his claim by submitting their marriage certificate and a live-in relationship document to the court, pleading for her to be produced before him. This petition is scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday before Justice Farzand Ali, with the local Station House Officer (SHO) directed to present the findings of the investigation.
Parallel to this, a separate case has been filed in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court by Shabbir Ahmed Khan. Shabbir has petitioned the court’s Srinagar bench, asserting that Shakeela is his lawful wife. He has provided a Nikahnama as evidence, claiming their marriage took place on June 12, 2024. His petition also seeks police protection for the couple, alleging that their relationship is being threatened by relatives. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court is scheduled to hear his plea on March 13.
According to Jitendra’s account, he met Shakeela while working on a contract job in Jammu, where they grew close. He claims their marriage in Punjab was with the consent of their families. The situation took a turn when Shakeela’s relatives filed a missing persons report, leading to her detention by Jammu Police. Jitendra alleges that after being taken to Jammu, he was prevented from reuniting with her, prompting him to seek legal recourse.
The Rajasthan High Court has been overseeing Jitendra’s petition since October 2025. Notices were issued to the relevant parties at the first hearing, with directives to produce the woman. However, as the police have been unable to locate her, the court has granted multiple extensions. In its latest order on February 23, 2026, the court adjourned the hearing to March 10, 2026, following a request from the government lawyer for more time. To aid in the search, the court had previously, on January 29, 2026, instructed the investigating officer to seek assistance from the CRPF and other paramilitary forces operating in the Jammu and Kashmir region.
