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Renowned playback singer Kumar Sanu has filed a defamation suit in the Bombay High Court against his former wife Rita Bhattacharya, seeking ₹30 lakh in damages and removal of interviews where she allegedly made defamatory statements about him. The case comes more than two decades after the couple’s divorce, which was finalised in 2001. The matter will be heard on December 17.
According to the petition, Ms. Bhattacharya gave interviews to entertainment platforms such as Viral Bhayani and Film Window in which she accused the singer of starving her during pregnancy, locking the kitchen, denying milk and medical care, and conducting court proceedings while she was expecting. She also alleged that Mr. Sanu had multiple affairs and neglected his family. The interviews were widely circulated on social media in September 2025.
The petition states that these remarks violate the consent terms recorded during their divorce proceedings before the Bandra Family Court on February 9, 2001. Those terms, according to Mr. Sanu, included a clause that neither party would make allegations against the other in the future. The petition argues that Ms. Bhattacharya’s statements have caused reputational harm and mental distress.
The legal notice sent on September 27 to Ms. Bhattacharya and media platforms warned of criminal prosecution if the interviews were not taken down. It said, “Our Client emphasizes the grave nature of the defamatory statements made by you, and the serious legal consequences that may follow if immediate remedial action is not taken.”
The notice also highlighted the nature of allegations, “You have alleged, inter alia, that Our Client failed to provide you food during pregnancy, that his family members are ‘ill-mannered’ and ‘uncultured,’ and have even questioned the adoption process that Our Client undertook.”
The petition said that Ms. Bhattacharya’s statements have significantly damaged the singer’s hard-earned reputation, both personally and professionally. “These derogatory remarks have created false impressions within social and professional circles among neighbours, and in potential business opportunities, resulting in substantial monetary and reputational loss,” the petition read.
While the civil suit seeks damages and takedown orders, the legal notice warns of criminal action under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita if the defendants fail to retract the statements.
The petition also includes a copy of a Delhi High Court order dated October 15, 2025, in an unrelated case where the court directed takedowns of AI-generated content allegedly misusing the singer’s persona.
English (US) ·