Woes of Indian businessman deepen; caught in bigamy

It has emerged that the embattled Indian businessman, Ashok Kumar Sivaram, is still married to his Indian wife despite declaring to Ghanaian authorities he was no more in marriage with her.

Sivaram was deported to India by the Ghana Immigration Service per a deportation order by the Interior Minister after it was discovered that the businessman forged a marriage certificate to support his application to be a Ghanaian citizenship.

He has since been challenging his deportation on the basis that he secured the permit legitimately, and has petitioned President Akufo-Addo to intervene for his residence status to be restored as ruled by the High Court in Accra.

Ashok in 30-year marriage

The embattled Indian businessman applied for resident permit in Ghana in 2008 and stated on his application document that he was divorced, but gave no documentation to support his divorce claim.

But in 2015 when he applied for renewal, he stated he was married; an issue which raised suspicion, prompting the Ghana Immigration Service to question the certificate backing his new marital.

The service believes the certificate is fake. Meanwhile, a TV3 investigation has revealed Ashok Kumar is currently in a 30-year marriage with Seema Nambiar Ashok contrary to his claim that he was divorced. They have two children.

TV3 has sighted a copy of the certified true copy of the marriage certificate between him and his Indian wife, Seema Nambiar Ashok.

Checks by TV3 have confirmed the certificate, which has the embossment of the Registrar of Bombah India and issued in May 1989, is genuine.

The Ghana Immigration Service believes the information was deliberately concealed from them by Ashok.

The Service told TV3 Monday it will investigate the circumstances under which he failed to declare such important information in his application documents.

Wife to sue for bigamy

Meanwhile, wife of Ashok has confirmed to TV3 exclusively that she is still in marriage with the businessman and expressed surprise at the development.

She has given an indication of her intention to sue Ashok for bigamy and that she will depend on the Ghanaian authorities to pursue the case.

She said her husband has never responded to the issue of him getting married in Ghana, indicating that their 30-year old marriage is still valid with no process of annulment initiated.