A Canadian businessman has allegedly set Rs 5.36 crore ($1 million) on fire to keep his ex-wife from getting the cash as part of their divorce settlement.

The man, identified as Bruce McConville (50), reportedly told a judge that he withdrew 1 million Canadian dollars in cash from six separate banks and burned them in two separate bonfires, most of it on September 23 and the rest of it on December 15, in order to avoid paying his wife spousal and child support in divorce. "It's not something that I would normally do. I am not a person that is extremely materialistic. A little goes a long way. I have always been frugal. That's why my business lasted for 31 years," McConville reportedly mentioned in his statement to the judge.

The judge, however, refused to believe the man and sentenced him to 30 days in jail for violation of court orders and adjured him to tell the truth as to whereabouts of the cash. "I don't believe you. I don't trust you. I don’t think you're honest. I find what you have done to be morally reprehensible because what you claim to have done willfully and directly undermines the interests of your children," the judge reportedly told him.

The judge has further directed the man to pay $2000 a day to his ex-wife until he discloses his finances to the court.