Location: Haryana (India)
I have an elder cousin brother (hereafter referred to as brother for easier understanding), who has been married to a woman (referred to as sister-in-law) since 2017. They have a 7-year-old daughter, and my sister-in-law is currently 3 months pregnant with their second child.
In January 2024, my sister-in-law found out from a third person—specifically, the driver of a woman named Jyoti—that my brother had been having an affair with Jyoti for the past 6 months. I’ve been quite close to both of them, having lived with them for a year due to my job. Unable to keep it to herself, my sister-in-law shared everything with me.
I confronted my brother, and he initially agreed to end things with Jyoti. However, over the next four months, he repeatedly lied, and eventually, my sister-in-law caught him with Jyoti again. My brother then emotionally manipulated my sister-in-law into “sharing” him with Jyoti. My sister-in-law, unfortunately, agreed to this arrangement—mainly due to the toxic environment she comes from and her kind-hearted nature.
About three months ago, we found out that Jyoti is now pregnant with his child. Jyoti works in a government job and lives in Haryana. For her medical procedures like ultrasounds, a marriage certificate is required. She is 37 and unmarried.
Now, Jyoti and my brother have convinced my sister-in-law to take a step that feels like a trap. The plan is for my sister-in-law to legally divorce my brother—while still continuing to live with his family—so that he can do a court marriage with Jyoti. This is supposedly so Jyoti’s child can have his name on official documents like Aadhaar. Later, they claim, Jyoti and my brother will get divorced, and he will remarry my sister-in-law.
I don’t trust either Jyoti or my brother. I’ve seen my sister-in-law suffer in unimaginable ways, and I wouldn’t wish such pain even on my worst enemy. Jyoti is legally well-informed, while my sister-in-law is innocent and overly trusting.
I urgently need advice on how to protect my sister-in-law from being taken advantage of. What if Jyoti refuses to divorce my brother after marrying him? What precautions or legal safeguards can be taken before the divorce is filed? What kind of proof or documentation would help in a future legal battle if things go wrong?
The divorce is scheduled for tomorrow, so any immediate help or legal guidance would be deeply appreciated.