By Ashraf Padanna/Thiruvananthapuram

The legal battle between actor-politician K B Ganesh Kumar and his estranged wife Dr Yamini Thankachi appeared heading for a compromise with a magistrate repositioning herself as a peace broker.

Both sides had earlier reportedly agreed on sharing assets but differences prevailed over the alimony to be paid to Dr Thankachi, who also insisted on a public apology from Kumar for making defamatory statements against her.

Chief judicial magistrate M B Snehalatha held talks with the couple, who have sought divorce, jointly and separately in her chamber for nearly three hours, giving enough time to consult their lawyers.

Sources said the magistrate had invited the two for further talks next Friday.

Kumar, who resigned as Kerala minister for sports, forests and cinema after Dr Thankachi publicly accused him of domestic violence, came to court along with his filmmaker friend Shaji Kailas and lawyers.

The magistrate, however, told the couple’s friends and lawyers to remain outside the chamber and directed them to refrain from making public statements.

The magistrate later held talks with the lawyers representing the two.

Kumar had earlier agreed to part with his house in the city, sell off his apartment in Chennai and pay Dr Thankachi Rs15mn from its proceeds and Rs2.5mn in cash besides making fixed deposits of Rs2.5mn each in the bank accounts of his two sons.

The deal, reached under the initiative of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, fell apart after Dr Thankachi insisted on more payment for each of the children and Kumar filed for divorce alleging domestic violence by her. The family feud issue also rocked the state assembly - even after the minister’s resignation - making it difficult for Speaker G Karthikeyan to conduct business and forcing him to cut short the sittings.

Kumar has also been under tremendous pressure from the ruling coalition to settle the case at any cost as the controversy was seen denting the image of the Congress party-led government which completes two years in power next month.

“The solution to this domestic dispute was not in the hands of (Chief Minister) Oommen Chandy. However, the government’s image has taken a beating and it has become a serious issue for all,” admitted Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi.

Both Kumar and Dr Thankachi, a senior research fellow at the Sree Chitra Institute of Medical Sciences here, had alleged physical assault in their police complaints and furnished photographs in support of their allegations.

Dr Tankachi had also sought treatment at a city hospital.

On Thursday, the magistrate in her interim order on the petition - under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005  - restrained Kumar from forcibly evicting Dr Yamini Thankachi and their two children from their city home.

Dr Thankachi has also demanded Rs200mn from Kumar as damages for breaching the deal agreed in the presence of the chief minister and alleged physical abuse and defamation, besides an interim relief of Rs22.5mn and a monthly maintenance of Rs200,000.