July 14, 2010
A woman is suing her ex-husband for intruding on her privacy. Georgina Bansal formerly known as Baksho Devi Gora has launched the claim against former spouse Harvinder Singh Gora. He is accused of secretly taping her conversations and informing family and friends of the contents. Miss Bansal has taken her case to the High Court and is seeking a 'very substantial sum' in damages. Miss Bansal’s barrister, Aidan Eardley, told the court that the tapes were made during the 'dying months' of the couple's acrimonious marriage and Mr Gora intended to spite Miss Bansal and damage her reputation. He told Mr Justice Burnett that Mr Gora surreptitiously recorded a number of private and confidential telephone conversations between her and third parties - conducted by telephone from her car - and then played extracts of these recordings to members of his family, as well as threatening to play them to others. Mr Gora admitted making threats to bug his ex wife’s car but denied actually carrying them out. The recordings are alleged to have been made via a small device secretly attached to the Bluetooth system in the family car. It was revealed that in May 2008 Mrs Gora's sister noticed a 'small black conical box' beside the Bluetooth fitting, and in August damage around the device appeared, indicating it had been recently removed. The court heard how Miss Bansal’s health had suffered because of Mr Gora’s ‘seriously intrusive' actions. Her barrister said the experience had not only ‘destroyed his client’s career’ but had soured certain family relationships as well. Besides substantial compensation for the alleged violations of her privacy, Miss Bansal is seeking forfeiture of the tapes, which her ex-husband denies making. Her legal action has been brought under breach of confidence and misuse of private information laws. The hearing is set to last at least three days.