Spent Rp6.5 Billion for Love, CEO Sues Ex-Partner After Breakup
A romantic relationship that ended poorly has resulted in a legal dispute between the CEO of a public company and his former partner. The CEO is suing his ex-girlfriend to recover US$4lar68,090, or approximately Rp6.5 billion, which he claims was provided during their relationship.
However, the Singapore High Court dismissed the claim on 9 September. The judge ruled that most of the money spent by Chander Agarwal on Felicia Lee constituted voluntary gifts rather than loans that required repayment.
According to the Straits Times, Agarwal is the CEO and Managing Director of TCI Express, an Indian company listed on the National Stock Exchange of India and the Bombay Stock Exchange. Lee is a former flight attendant who later worked as an insurance agent and medical product sales representative.
The pair first met on a flight in 2019. Subsequently, Agarwal contacted Lee via Facebook, and their relationship grew closer. They officially began dating in September 2022 before eventually parting ways in December 2023. Agarwal filed the lawsuit in March 2024 after suspecting Lee of infidelity.
Expenditure Reaching US$468,000
In his lawsuit, Agarwal sought to recover various expenses that he claimed were loans to Lee. These included credit card bills of approximately US$206,000 (Rp2.8 billion), overseas travel costs of around US$129,000 (Rp1.8 billion), a US$17,000 (Rp235 million) payment for feng shui services for Lee’s apartment, and approximately US$30,000 (Rp416 million) for a Stanford-NUS executive programme.
The judge ruled that Agarwal failed to provide evidence that these expenses were intended as loans.
“The plaintiff was unable to show any evidence demonstrating that the defendant requested the funds as a loan or agreed to repay them,” stated Judge Lee in the written judgement.
The judge concluded that the majority of the money was a gift provided voluntarily during their relationship.
From Limousines to Credit Cards
According to the trial facts, gifts to Lee were even made before the couple officially began dating. Agarwal reportedly hired luxury limousines to drive Lee home after dinners, purchased luxury items from brands such as Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Prada, and covered most of their travel expenses to Europe.
In a WhatsApp conversation in May 202<0xC2>1, when Lee mentioned she had not flown for several years, Agarwal offered first-class tickets or even the use of a private jet.
“Soon you will be flying. I have already booked first-class/suite tickets for you, wherever you want to go once travel access reopens. If not, just use a private jet,” Agarwal wrote.
In August 2022, when Lee asked how she could repay his many kindnesses, Agarwal replied, “There is no need. I am not a moneylender.”
After they began dating in September 2022, Agarwal also offered a monthly allowance of US$1,500 (Rp21 million) for expenses such as taxis, food, and beauty treatments. A few months later, in December 2022, he offered Lee the use of his American Express Centurion card.
“Now you do not need to worry about money. Just take whatever you want,” he wrote.
Handwritten Agreement Questioned
One piece of evidence presented by Agarwal in court was a handwritten agreement document claimed to have been signed by Lee. In this document, Lee allegedly acknowledged that the monthly “deposits” of between US$10,000 and US$25,000 she received from Agarwal were actually his money. However, Lee denied ever signing the document or even seeing it before the case went to trial.
Doubts also arose because Agarwal did not include the document in his initial claim. In the original lawsuit, he stated that he had never insisted on making formal written agreements. The document only surfaced about seven months later, when Agarwal applied to amend his claim.
Relationship Ends, Dispute Continues
In the ruling, Judge Lee described Agarwal’s change in attitude after the breakup as a form of anger resulting from the failed relationship.
The judge even quoted the 1697 drama The Mourning Bride by William Congreve: “There is no fury in heaven equal to love turned to hate, nor is there any rage in hell comparable to a woman jilted.”
“This case shows that such emotions are not exclusive to one gender,” said Judge Lee.
With this ruling, Agarwal’s claim to recover approximately US$468,090 from his former partner was denied by the court.