“Blatant Lies Disguised as Truth”: Kumar Sanu Files Defamation Suit Against Former Wife

“Blatant lies disguised as truth,” Bollywood playback legend Kumar Sanu has alleged, as he moved the Bombay High Court with a defamation suit against his former wife Rita Bhattacharya, accusing her of making false and malicious claims that he says have severely damaged his reputation built over four decades.

Popularly known as Kumar Sanu, the singer has sought a public apology and monetary compensation, along with a permanent restraint on Bhattacharya from making or circulating any allegedly defamatory statements against him or his family. The suit has been filed through advocate Sana Raees Khan.

Allegations and Legal Stand

According to the plea, Bhattacharya recently gave interviews to paparazzi-driven platforms such as Viral Bhayani and Film Window, where she accused Sanu of mistreating her during her pregnancy decades ago. She alleged that he deprived her of food, confined her to household chores, and denied her medical care.

Sanu has categorically denied these accusations, calling them false, malicious, and defamatory, and claims they were made with the intent to gain sympathy and tarnish his public image.

Breach of Divorce Agreement

The suit also highlights a consent clause in the couple’s 2001 divorce settlement, finalised at the Bandra Family Court, which reportedly barred both parties from making allegations against each other in the future. Sanu contends that Bhattacharya’s recent statements are a direct violation of this agreement.

Sanu and Bhattacharya were married on November 18, 1986, separated in 1994, and formally divorced in 2001. Shortly after the divorce decree, Sanu remarried on February 16, 2001.

Social Media Fallout

While the couple has been separated for over three decades, Bhattacharya’s interviews surfaced again in September 2025, with videos uploaded on September 22 and 28. As per court documents, the clips went viral, collectively garnering around 1.5 million views.

Following show-cause notices issued by Sanu, the concerned platforms reportedly either deleted the videos or restricted public access. He has also alleged that Bhattacharya threatened his personal manager, prompting him to issue legal notices to Meta and YouTube seeking the removal of defamatory content.

Reputation and Professional Impact

Emphasising his standing in the industry, Sanu stated that he enjoys an “impeccable reputation earned over 42 years of dedicated work.” He also pointed out that the Delhi High Court had earlier granted protection of his personality rights in his favour.

The suit claims that the circulation of the disputed content has caused grave, incalculable, and irreparable harm to his goodwill, commercial prospects, and professional credibility. Sanu has further alleged a surge in online harassment, ridicule, and derogatory comments directed at him, resulting in a noticeable decline in professional inquiries and engagements.

Next Hearing

The defamation suit, along with an interim application seeking an injunction against Bhattacharya, is scheduled to be heard on December 24 before a bench headed by Justice Milind Jadhav.

As the legal battle unfolds, the case is likely to draw significant attention, given the stature of the singer and the serious nature of the allegations surrounding a decades-old personal dispute now playing out in the public domain.

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