Bollywood playback singer Kumar Sanu has approached the Bombay High Court with a Rs 50 crore defamation suit against his former wife Rita Bhattacharya over alleged defamatory interviews and social media remarks. The case seeks injunctions, takedowns, and damages.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
MUMBAI: Renowned Bollywood playback singer Kumar Sanu, also known as Sanu Bhattacharjee, has filed a ₹50 crore defamation suit before the Bombay High Court against his ex-wife Rita Bhattacharya, alleging that her recent interviews and social media statements have caused severe damage to his reputation, goodwill, and professional career.
The civil suit also seeks sweeping injunctive relief against major digital platforms, including Google and Meta, as well as unidentified entities, to prevent the circulation of allegedly defamatory content.
ALSO READ: Delhi High Court Protects Singer Kumar Sanu’s Personality Rights And Publicity Rights
The application seeking urgent interim relief is expected to be listed before Justice Milind Jadhav on December 24, according to the plaint.
In his plaint, Sanu has contended that interviews given by Bhattacharya in September 2025 on popular YouTube channels, including Film Window, Viral Bhayani, and Siddharth Kannan, contained false, malicious, and scandalous allegations relating to his conduct during their marriage.
The suit states that clips and reels from these interviews were widely shared across platforms, collectively amassing over 1.5 million views, thereby causing what the singer describes as irreparable harm to his reputation and professional prospects.
“The defamatory remarks have cast unwarranted aspersions on Sanu’s integrity and credibility, resulting in a tangible decline in professional inquiries and engagement opportunities,”
the plaint states.
Kumar Sanu has quantified his total claim at ₹50 crores, broken down as follows:
- ₹15 crore for alleged actual commercial losses, including cancelled concerts, reduced appearance fees, and suspended endorsement contracts
- ₹10 crore towards damage to professional reputation and goodwill
- ₹15 crore for mental agony, humiliation, and emotional distress
- ₹10 crore as exemplary and punitive damages to deter similar conduct in the future
The plaintiff further asserts that the controversy triggered a surge of abusive and defamatory comments on social media, aggravating the harm caused.
A significant aspect of the suit is Sanu’s claim that Bhattacharya’s statements amount to a wilful breach of consent terms recorded during their matrimonial proceedings in 2001.
According to the singer, both parties had agreed at the time to withdraw all allegations and refrain from raising future claims against each other.
He alleges that Bhattacharya revived disputes after more than three decades of separation, which he claims amounts to contempt of court and breach of contract.
“This conduct constitutes wilful and deliberate breach of consent terms entered at the time of divorce,”
the plaint alleges.
Sanu has also relied upon a prior order of the Delhi High Court that recognised and protected his personality and publicity rights, arguing that the impugned statements further infringe upon those rights.
ALSO READ: Singer Kumar Sanu Moves Delhi High Court for Protection of Personality Rights
Among the reliefs sought, Kumar Sanu has requested the court to:
- Direct Rita Bhattacharya to tender a written apology before the court
- Order the publication of the apology in leading newspapers
- Issue takedown directions to social media platforms for existing content
- Restrain platforms and John Doe (unknown) entities from uploading or circulating similar defamatory material in the future
The plaint notes that some videos have already been taken down or made private following legal notices.
Appearance:
Kumar Sanu: Advocate Sana Raees Khan.
Read More Reports On Kumar Sanu
