Jasus for Jeevansathi? Spouses hire digital detectives to know real income

With divorce cases rising sharply in Gujarat and across India, a growing number of estranged spouses are hiring private investigators to uncover hidden income and financial details, especially in alimony disputes. Legal experts say this trend reflects increasing mistrust, especially around alimony claims, and a growing awareness of how financial affidavits can be manipulated in court.

“Hiring digital detectives or financial investigators to obtain the true income details and evidence about the other spouse is becoming more common,” said I M Khokhar, former president of the Family Court Bar Association. “If a false affidavit is exposed through such an investigation, there is a legal provision for punishment.”

Lawyers estimate that around 60% of affidavits filed in alimony cases conceal the true income of one of the parties. About 30% are deliberate omissions aimed at financial advantage, while the remaining 30% result from ignorance of legal requirements.

More common in wealthy families

Family Court Bar Association President H N Shah noted that the use of financial investigators is especially prevalent in high-net-worth families. “When a divorce case is filed in affluent households, investigators are brought in to uncover the real financial picture,” Shah said. “However, such practices do not have explicit legal sanction. To safeguard themselves, investigators usually obtain an undertaking from their clients stating that the information will only be used in court proceedings.”

Gujarat among top four states for divorce filings

Data shows that divorce filings are on the rise nationally. In 2023, India recorded 27,194 divorce cases. That number more than doubled in 2024, reaching 62,146. Uttar Pradesh registered the highest number of cases, followed by Punjab, Kerala, and Gujarat — which now ranks third in the country.

Affidavits and alimony: No fixed formula

Alimony claims in Indian courts are guided by Supreme Court norms, which require both parties to submit income affidavits. However, manipulation of these documents is common.

“In many cases, the wife may underreport or deny employment, while the husband may conceal business earnings or other sources of income,” said Khokhar.

Courts take into account multiple factors before determining the alimony amount, including income, social status, and prior responsibilities. For instance, if a woman has given up her career to support a wealthy spouse, the court may set alimony in a way that preserves the lifestyle she enjoyed during the marriage.

What do investigators look for?

Financial investigators generally focus on:

• Undisclosed sources of income 
• Bank accounts and transaction history 
• Properties and investments in the spouse’s name 
• Employment or business income

Investigators typically approach workplaces, business partners, or financial institutions to collect evidence. Before findings are shared with clients, a legal undertaking is taken to ensure the information is not misused outside court.

Second stage: Income affidavits and Section 144

In most divorce proceedings, the second stage involves filing an alimony case under Section 144 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. This is when both spouses are required to submit sworn income affidavits. However, legal professionals caution that the system is often misused due to lack of enforcement or oversight.

The rising trend of digital snooping in divorce cases underscores how contentious and financially complex modern separations have become — and the lengths individuals are willing to go to protect their interests.