Custody Battle Turns Uglier: Dhivya Sashidhar Speaks Out, Prasanna Sankar Claims Bias in Media Coverage
Weeks after tech entrepreneur Prasanna Sankar accused his wife Dhivya Sashidhar and the Chennai Police of harassment amidst a long and bitter custody battle, Dhivya has responded with serious allegations of her own in a tell-all interview.
Prasanna’s Response to Media Coverage
In response to the article published by The San Francisco Standard, Prasanna stated that the outlet ignored all his responses. “SF Standard ignored all my responses to these allegations and just ran with it,” he said when contacted by India Today.
He went on to claim that the platform was more interested in generating traffic than presenting facts. “They can write a hit piece. I don’t want to respond and give them the page views and get their objective done,” he added.
The report, however, included Dhivya’s side, supported by a cache of documents, emails, photos, and court records. Prasanna dismissed the report as “random allegations with almost no viewership,” and stated, “If it gets big, I’ll respond fully on X.”
Dhivya’s Allegations of Abuse
In her exclusive to The San Francisco Standard, Dhivya accused Prasanna of being a sexual predator and engaging in voyeuristic behavior.
She alleged that she was coerced into sex during her postpartum recovery and was pressured into accepting an open marriage and the involvement of prostitutes.
The report claimed, “Prasanna coerced her into sex even during postpartum pain and engaged in voyeurism by installing hidden cameras across their home in Singapore, including their son’s bathroom.”
Dhivya told the court, “Prasanna would come and tell me, ‘Look, sex is a primal need for me. You have to do it. It doesn’t matter, like, you know, how much pain you’re in.’”
She also accused Prasanna of physically assaulting her by punching her in the chest and using his financial power to intimidate and control her, including restricting access to joint bank accounts.
According to Dhivya, she left the country due to domestic violence and obtained both an emergency US passport and a restraining order.
Infidelity Accusations and Response
Prasanna previously claimed on social media that he discovered Dhivya’s alleged affair with a man named Anoop Kuttysankaran.
He posted screenshots he claimed were from conversations between Dhivya and Anoop, including hotel bookings and messages referencing condoms.
Prasanna said, “Me and my wife, Dhivya, were married for 10 years and we have a 9 year old son. Recently our marriage broke down after I discovered she was having an affair, with a person named Anoop for over 6 months.”
However, Dhivya countered that the messages were fabricated. Her lawyers told the court that the affair, if any, was “emotional,” not “sexual.” She also said that the screenshots had been shared by Anoop’s wife.
Custody Dispute and Tax Allegations
The bitter custody dispute between the couple has become highly public. Prasanna accused Dhivya of kidnapping their child and fleeing to the United States. He also accused her of filing for divorce in the US to secure a more favorable settlement.
In response, Dhivya claimed she left India fearing for her safety and alleged that Prasanna moved countries frequently to avoid paying taxes and to divide his assets in a way that would minimize her share.
According to court records cited in the article, Prasanna admitted to tax avoidance strategies, including evading US income tax and exit tax.
Public Reaction and Online Debate
After Prasanna’s posts gained attention, many on social media sympathized with him, demanding action against Dhivya. But the release of Dhivya’s detailed account shifted public opinion, prompting new discussions around abuse, control, and manipulation.
Prasanna continued to deny the allegations, stating on X, “Isn’t it fishy that suddenly I’m so bad?” He questioned why none of the claims surfaced during their seven years of dating and 10 years of marriage. He described the article as “lies she made to the court taken out and summarised.”
The Couple’s Background
Prasanna Sankar and Dhivya Sashidhar met as students at the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli. They married in 2013 and share a 9-year-old son.
Their dispute, which began as a custody case, has now grown into a deeply personal and public battle, filled with explosive claims and counterclaims.
As the legal process continues, both sides remain firm in their narratives, each accusing the other of manipulation and misconduct. The custody and divorce proceedings are ongoing in the United States.
