What would you do if someone you considered a close friend told you they didn’t want a romantic relationship with you?
For one Singaporean man, the answer was far more dramatic than simply walking away.
In 2023, K. Kawshigan made headlines after filing a lawsuit against Nora Tan Shu Mei, a woman he had known since 2016. He claimed that her rejection and subsequent actions had caused him serious emotional trauma and other damage. He sought S$3 million in Singapore’s High Court – roughly £1.9 million at the time.
But the story gets even stranger.
They Didn’t See Their Relationship The Same Way
Kawshigan and Tan had met in 2016 and developed a friendship.
According to court documents, the two eventually disagreed about what their relationship actually was.
Tan regarded Kawshigan as a friend, while he considered her his closest friend and wanted their relationship to become more involved.
By around 2020, Tan wanted to reduce their interactions. Kawshigan, however, was unhappy with the idea of creating more distance between them.
The disagreement continued for some time. The pair even took part in counselling for about a year and a half, but it did not resolve the situation. Eventually, Tan stopped communicating with him.
That’s when the legal battle began.
A £1.9 Million Lawsuit
Kawshigan filed a S$3 million High Court claim.
His allegations included claims that Tan’s conduct had caused him trauma, depression and damage to his reputation. His claim also included alleged losses involving business opportunities and investments.
But that wasn’t his only lawsuit.
He also filed a separate S$22,000 claim in the Magistrate’s Court, arguing that Tan had breached an alleged agreement to improve their relationship.
That case did not go well for him.
The court struck it out, describing it as an abuse of the court process. The judge found that the claim was being used to pressure Tan into maintaining communication with him.
Then She Countersued
While Kawshigan was seeking millions from Tan, she took legal action of her own.
Tan said she had experienced harassment and had taken steps to protect herself. According to court documents reported by CNA, she installed a digital door viewer, an alarm sensor and a smart video doorbell.
She also sought money for counselling and related expenses.
The situation had gone far beyond an ordinary disagreement between two friends.
The Part That Went Viral
The case attracted international attention because of its unusual premise: a man was seeking millions in damages after a woman he wanted a romantic relationship with rejected him.
But there’s an important detail that viral social-media posts often leave out.
He did not win the S$3 million.
The separate S$22,000 lawsuit was struck out, with the court finding it was an abuse of process. The larger High Court case was a separate proceeding, and contemporary reports described it as still pending at the time.
The case became a striking example of how a broken friendship can turn into an extraordinarily complicated legal dispute.
And perhaps the biggest takeaway is simple:
A rejection may hurt. But you can’t use a lawsuit to force someone to have the relationship you want.
