The acrimonious split between boxing icon MC Mary Kom and her former husband Karung Onkholer (Onler) has escalated into a public battle of explosive allegations as of January 2026. While Mary Kom has accused Onler of financial betrayal, he has countered with claims of extramarital affairs spanning over a decade.
The Financial Allegations (Mary Kom’s Claims)
Speaking recently on platforms like Aap Ki Adalat and to the media, Mary Kom described her discovery of the alleged betrayal as “the darkest phase” of her life.
- The “Lie”: Mary claimed she only realized the extent of the financial mismanagement when she was bedridden following an injury before the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
- Asset Misappropriation: She alleged Onler cheated her out of ₹5 crore, took unauthorized loans in her name, mortgaged her properties, and transferred assets to himself.
- The Election Fiasco: Mary alleged she spent ₹5-6 crore to support Onler’s failed bid for an MLA seat in the 2022 Manipur elections, despite her personal dislike for politics.
- Direct Theft: She claimed to have caught him “red-handed” withdrawing ₹10 lakh from her account while telling her he only took ₹30,000.
The Counter-Allegations (Onler’s Defense)
Onler has dismissed Mary’s claims as baseless, pointing to his current lifestyle as proof of his innocence.
- Extramarital Affairs: Onler alleged Mary had an affair with a junior boxer in 2013, which caused a major family rift at the time. He further claimed that since 2017, she has been involved with someone working at the Mary Kom Boxing Academy. He asserts he has WhatsApp messages and the name of the individual as proof.
- Financial Denial: He challenged her to bring “papers and proof” for the fraud allegations. “I lived with her for 18 years. Look at my house—I’m staying in a rented place in Delhi,” he told IANS, arguing that if he had stolen crores, he wouldn’t be living in such modest conditions.
- The Divorce: The couple, who married in 2005 and have four children, confirmed their customary divorce was finalized in 2023, though some formal court proceedings are reportedly still pending.
Status of the Children
Mary Kom has stated that all four children are living with her in Faridabad, and she is handling all their expenses. Onler, while acknowledging she pays the fees, claimed he was the one who actually raised them while she was focused on her career.