Who is Payal Abdullah? Biography, Wiki, Age, Kids, Parents, Husband, Net Worth & More
Payal Abdullah aka Payal Nath (born 6 June 1973, Age: 50 years old) is a successful entrepreneur and the ex-wife of Omar Abdullah, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. She runs a travel business and a mineral water company in India.
She is also known for her legal battles with her estranged husband and the government over the custody of her children and the possession of a government bungalow in Delhi. Here is everything you need to know about Payal’s life, family, career, and controversies.
Early Life and Education
Payal Abdullah was born on June 6, 1973, in Delhi, India. She belongs to a Sikh family that has roots in Lahore, Pakistan. Her father, Ram Nath, is a retired army officer and her mother is a homemaker. She has a brother named Pankaj Nath.
Payal completed her schooling at the Army School in Delhi and graduated with English honors from the University of Delhi. She then went to London for higher studies and pursued an MBA in marketing.
Payal Abdullah Wiki/Bio
| Name | Payal Abdullah |
| Birth name | Payal Nath |
| Date of birth | 6 June 1973 |
| Place of birth | Delhi, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hinduism (converted to Islam before marriage) |
| Education | B.Com. from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, MBA in marketing from University of London |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Spouse | Omar Abdullah (m. 1994, separated 2011) |
| Children | Zamir and Zahir |
| Parents | Ram Nath (father), name not known (mother) |
| Siblings | Pankaj Nath (brother) |
| Famous for | Being the ex-wife of Omar Abdullah, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir |
| Businesses | Jairu Naturelle (mineral water company) travel business |
| Controversies | Legal disputes with Omar Abdullah over custody of children and maintenance, eviction from government bungalow in Delhi |
| Net worth | Rs. 90 lakh (approx.) |
| Hobbies | Traveling, listening to music, yoga, meditation |
| Friends | Priyanka Gandhi Vadra |
| payalrnath | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Career and Business
Abdullah started her career as a marketing executive at The Oberoi, a five-star hotel chain in New Delhi. It was there that she met Omar Abdullah, who was also working as a trainee in the same hotel. They fell in love and got married in 1994.
Payal quit her job after marriage and became a homemaker. She supported her husband’s political career and accompanied him to various events and functions. She also took care of their two sons, Zamir and Zahir.
Payal Abdullah later ventured into entrepreneurship and established her own businesses. She owns a mineral water plant called Jairu Naturelle, which operates in Himachal Pradesh. The plant is located 3 km away from Kullu, on the Kullu-Manali highway. Jairu Naturelle produces natural spring water that is bottled and sold in the market.
Payal also runs a travel business from her hometown, Delhi. She offers customized packages and services to her clients, who include celebrities and politicians. She is passionate about traveling and exploring new places.
Marriage and Separation
Abdullah married Omar Abdullah, the scion of one of the most prominent political families of Jammu and Kashmir, on September 1, 1994. Omar Abdullah is the son of Farooq Abdullah, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, and the grandson of Sheikh Abdullah, the founder of the National Conference party and the first prime minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Payal and Omar Abdullah had a lavish wedding ceremony that was attended by many dignitaries and VIPs. However, both their families were initially opposed to their inter-faith marriage. Abdullah converted to Islam before marriage and changed her name to Payal Nath.
Payal Abdullah and Omar Abdullah were married for 17 years and had two sons, Zamir and Zahir. However, their marriage hit a rough patch in 2011, when they decided to separate. They filed for divorce in a Delhi court, but their application was rejected. The court asked them to resolve their differences amicably and reconcile.
Payal and Omar Abdullah have been living separately since then, but their divorce has not been finalized yet. They have been involved in several legal disputes over the custody of their children and the possession of a government bungalow in Delhi.
Legal Controversies
Payal Abdullah has been in the limelight for her legal controversies with her estranged husband and the government. She has been fighting for the custody of her children, who are currently living with Omar Abdullah in Srinagar. She has also been demanding a monthly maintenance of Rs. 15 lakh from Omar Abdullah, who has been paying her Rs. 1.5 lakh as per the Delhi High Court’s order.
Payal has also been embroiled in a controversy over the possession of a government bungalow in Delhi, where she has been residing since 1999. The bungalow, located at 7, Akbar Road, is a type VIII property that is allotted to cabinet ministers, chief ministers, and judges. Abdullah claims that she has a right to stay in the bungalow as the wife of a former chief minister and a Z-plus security-protected.
However, the government has been trying to evict her from the bungalow, saying that she is an unauthorized occupant and has to vacate the premises. The government has also alleged that she has made illegal alterations and additions to the bungalow, causing damage to the property.
Abdullah has challenged the government’s eviction notice in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court. She has argued that she needs the bungalow for her security and privacy and that she cannot be forced to leave without an alternative accommodation. She has also claimed that she has been paying the rent and the electricity bills for the bungalow regularly.
The Supreme Court, however, has dismissed her plea and upheld the government’s decision to evict her from the bungalow. The court has said that Payal has no legal right to occupy the bungalow and that she has to vacate it within two weeks. The court has also asked the government to provide her with suitable accommodation as per her security status.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
Payal is a wealthy and influential entrepreneur, who has a net worth of Rs. 90 lakh, according to some sources. She lives a luxurious lifestyle, with a penchant for designer clothes, accessories, and cars. She owns a BMW and a Mercedes-Benz, among other vehicles.
Abdullah is also a socialite, who attends many parties and events with her friends and family. She is fond of music, movies, and books. She is also a fitness enthusiast, who likes to do yoga and meditation.
Delhi High Court Rejects Omar Abdullah’s Divorce Plea from Wife Payal
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s appeal for divorce from his estranged wife Payal was dismissed by the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.
The court upheld the family court’s decision that denied him the divorce on the grounds of cruelty and desertion. The court also said that Omar Abdullah failed to prove that his marriage had irretrievably broken down and that he wanted to remarry.
Background of the Case
Omar Abdullah and Payal Abdullah got married on September 1, 1994, and have two sons, Zamir and Zahir. The couple separated in 2009 and have been living apart since then. Omar Abdullah filed a divorce petition in 2014, alleging that Payal had subjected him to cruelty and deserted him.
He also claimed that he had not enjoyed a conjugal relationship since 2007 and that their marriage had irretrievably broken down. He sought a decree of divorce under Section 13(1)(a) and 13(1)(ib) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
Abdullah contested the divorce petition and denied the allegations of cruelty and desertion. She also claimed that Omar Abdullah had concealed his income and assets and sought maintenance and alimony from him. She also filed a petition for restitution of conjugal rights under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
The family court dismissed Omar Abdullah’s divorce petition on August 30, 2016, and allowed Payal Abdullah’s petition for restitution of conjugal rights on September 9, 2016. Omar Abdullah challenged the family court’s orders in the Delhi High Court.
Reasons for the High Court’s Decision
The Delhi High Court bench of Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vikas Mahajan rejected Omar Abdullah’s appeal and affirmed the family court’s decision. The court gave the following reasons for its decision:
- The court found that Omar Abdullah’s allegations of cruelty were vague, general, and unsubstantiated. The court said that he did not provide any specific instances or evidence of cruelty by Abdullah. The court also noted that Omar Abdullah did not file any complaint or take any legal action against Payal for cruelty during their marriage. The court said that mere allegations of mental torture, humiliation, and indifference were not sufficient to prove cruelty.
- The court also found that Omar Abdullah’s allegation of desertion was not proven. The court said that desertion means the intentional and permanent abandonment of one spouse by the other without any reasonable cause or consent. The court said that Omar Abdullah did not prove that Payal had deserted him without any reasonable cause or consent. The court also said that Omar Abdullah himself admitted that he had left the matrimonial home in 2009 and that Abdullah had tried to contact him and reconcile with him. The court said that this showed that Payal had not deserted him.
- The court also rejected Omar Abdullah’s argument that his marriage had irretrievably broken down and that he wanted to remarry. The court said that an irretrievable breakdown of marriage was not a ground for divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act, of 1955. The court also said that Omar Abdullah’s desire to remarry was not a valid reason to grant him a divorce. The court said that granting divorce on such grounds would amount to encouraging the parties to end their marriage without any effort to save it.
- The court also observed that Omar Abdullah and Abdullah had two sons who were staying with their mother. The court said that the welfare of the children was an important factor to be considered while deciding the divorce case. The court said that granting divorce to Omar Abdullah would adversely affect the interests of the children.
| Data | Value |
|---|---|
| Date of marriage | September 1, 1994 |
| Date of separation | 2009 |
| Date of divorce petition by Omar Abdullah | 2014 |
| Date of dismissal of divorce petition by family court | August 30, 2016 |
| Date of appeal by Omar Abdullah in high court | 2016 |
| Date of dismissal of appeal by high court | December 12, 2023 |
Trivia
- Abdullah is the daughter-in-law of Mollie Abdullah, an Englishwoman and a nurse, who married Farooq Abdullah in 1971.
- Payal is the sister-in-law of Sarah Abdullah Pilot, the wife of Sachin Pilot, the former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan, and the president of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee.
- She is a good friend of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the daughter of Sonia Gandhi and the general secretary of the Indian National Congress.
- Abdullah is an animal lover, who has a pet dog named Bruno.
- She also supports various animal welfare organizations and causes.
