Smita with her husband and brother-in-law

Dhanbad, Nov. 30: Smita Srivastav at last has something to cheer for.

The 27-year-old IIT Kharagpur alumnus, who is fighting a legal battle for justice against her husband Saurabh Srivastav and brother-in-law Gaurav, today received news that she has been admitted to the MBA course in Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (also the alma mater of Anil Ambani) and INSEAD, France.

The news came on a day when a court in Bokaro today rejected the bail petition of Gaurav Srivastav, the brother-in-law of Smita, months after she filed a criminal complaint case.

District and sessions judge R.N. Verma dismissed Gaurav?s bail petition which he had filed after the trial court of B.D. Tewary had, on November 6, issued a warrant of arrest against the two brothers who are both in the US. Saurabh works with Alcatel.

The warrant was sent to the Bokaro police superintendent for execution, but on his advice, it has now been forwarded to the assistant director (Interpol) of the CBI.

Smita married Saurabh, a year her senior in IIT, Kanpur, in 2001. The couple flew to the US where her husband landed a dream job in California. Both came from well-placed families: Smita?s father was the deputy general manager at the SAIL plant in Bokaro while Saurabh?s father held a similar position at the SAIL plant in Rourkela.

The couple?s honeymoon was shortlived as Saurabh allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh from her to finance his brother?s education in the US.

In her complaint, Smita has said her husband?s demand was based on the fact that her father had taken VRS and would have received a tidy sum.

After months of mental and physical torture ? Smita even attempted suicide in December 2002 ? and futile efforts at reconciliation, Smita filed a criminal complaint in August 2004 against her husband and brother-in-law.

Talking to The Telegraph at his residence in Bokaro, Smita?s father Shree Prakash said his daughter was ready to patch up with her husband and had repeatedly pleaded that she would arrange for the money once she starts working.

?My daughter told her in-laws and husband how could she demand Rs 20 lakh from the VRS money I had received. But her in-laws warned her that she would have to forget Saurabh if she failed to get the money,? he alleged.