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.