Actress Celina Jaitly, who has filed for divorce from Peter Haag on grounds of domestic violence and cruelty, has now responded to the defamation threats from her estranged husband and father-in-law. On Friday, the actress took to Instagram and shared a carousel post addressing the defamation. She made it clear that she will not bow down to the pressure.
Jaitly revealed that two legal notices have recently been sent to her by Peter Haag and his father Wolfgang Haag, threatening to sue her for defamation. She stated that she has submitted her response through her legal representatives.
She wrote, "For years, publicity involving our family was actively embraced, including Peter's participation in magazine covers, interviews, articles featuring our children and me until it suited his own interests. It is therefore ironic that when I began speaking about my own experiences, legal battles, concerns as a mother and pursuit of justice, I was met with legal notices instead of answers. Let me be clear, these are my children too. I am their mother and they are the reason I continue this fight."
She further mentioned that she has consistently supported joint custody and an amicable divorce. However, despite court orders, she has remained without contact with her children. She alleged that consistent efforts are being made to remove her from her role as their mother.
She continued, "My public appeals arose from concerns about my children's removal from the marital residence and the possibility of them being moved outside the jurisdiction of the Austrian and Indian courts without my knowledge or consent. As a mother with joint custody, I believe it is both my right and responsibility to raise those concerns. I have long felt subjected to pressure, intimidation and attacks on my rights living in a remote Austrian village, specifically as a woman who lost both her parents. All evidence has been placed in front of competent authorities and honourable courts across jurisdictions."
Earlier, Peter Haag and his father Dr. Wolfgang J. Haag served two legal notices to the actress alleging defamation. The notices claimed that despite ongoing judicial proceedings regarding matrimonial and child custody matters in Austrian courts, recent public statements, interviews, social media narratives, and media publications contain unverified and defamatory allegations against Peter Haag and members of the Haag family. The notices expressed concern over the impact of the publicity on their three minor children.
Jaitly added, "What appears to trouble some is not that I have spoken, but that I have refused to remain silent. I had the courage to leave, stand up for myself, seek the return of what I believe is rightfully mine, protect my relationship with my children and pursue justice through lawful means."
The actress firmly believes that efforts are now being made to discredit, intimidate, and silence her. She stated, "The image of a 50-year-old man and his 75-year-old father (recently on his new third marriage) joining forces to issue legal threats against a woman without anyone to turn to after she gathered courage to contend years of abuse and the forced transfer of her premarital assets, just at the moment she sought relief before competent courts, speaks for itself. I will not be intimidated into silence for speaking about my experiences or seeking the legal remedies available to me. I am fighting with evidence and have full faith in the judicial systems of India and Austria."
