Kumar Sanu Sues Ex-Wife for ₹50 Crore, Alleging Defamation

Singer Kumar Sanu has initiated legal action against his former wife, Rita Bhattacharya, filing a ₹50 crore defamation suit in the Bombay High Court. The lawsuit aims to prevent Bhattacharya, along with online platforms such as Google and Meta, from publishing or disseminating content that allegedly defames the singer and his family.

The case, seeking immediate interim relief, is expected to be heard by Justice Milind Jadhav on December 24.

Sanu's suit claims that videos containing defamatory content were widely circulated through clips and reels, amassing over 1.5 million views. He argues that this widespread dissemination has caused significant and irreparable damage to his reputation and career prospects.

The suit asserts that Sanu's integrity and credibility have been unjustly attacked by the defamatory statements, leading to a noticeable decrease in professional opportunities. According to the plaint, some of the videos have been removed or made private following legal notices.

Sanu further contends that Bhattacharya's statements violate the consent terms established during their divorce proceedings in 2001. These terms stipulated that both parties would retract previous allegations and refrain from making future claims against each other.

The singer alleges that Bhattacharya has revived old grievances after 32 years of separation. The lawsuit states that this behavior constitutes a deliberate breach of the consent terms agreed upon at the time of their divorce, amounting to contempt of court and a breach of contract.

The ₹50 crore claim is broken down as follows:

• ₹15 crore for alleged commercial losses due to cancelled engagements, reduced fees, and suspended endorsements.
• ₹10 crore for damage to professional reputation and goodwill.
• ₹15 crore for mental agony, humiliation, and distress.
• ₹10 crore as punitive damages to deter similar actions.

The lawsuit also seeks a court order directing Bhattacharya to issue a written apology and publish it in newspapers. Additionally, Sanu is requesting a broad takedown order against social media platforms and unidentified entities to remove existing defamatory content and prevent future uploads.