'Dignity Was Affected': Kumar Sanu Thanks Bombay HC After Winning Defamation Case Against Ex-Wife

After months of legal back-and-forth, Kumar Sanu finally has reason to breathe easy. The veteran playback singer has welcomed the Bombay High Court’s recent order in his favour, calling it a much-needed

step to protect his reputation and his family from what the court described as defamatory public statements.

The Bombay High Court has granted ad-interim relief to Sanu in a defamation suit he filed against his former wife, Rita Bhattacharya, in December 2025. The singer had sought damages of Rs 50 crore, alleging that Bhattacharya made false and damaging claims about him through interviews and social media platforms. As part of the interim order, the court directed Bhattacharya to pay Rs 50 lakh in damages and restrained her from making or circulating any allegedly defamatory statements against Sanu or his family.

Reacting to the order, Sanu expressed gratitude during an interaction with Hindustan Times, emphasising the personal cost of the controversy. He said, “My reputation is the result of years of dedication and my family should never have had to suffer because of the defamatory statements that affected my reputation and our dignity.”

The order was passed by Justice Milind Jadhav on January 21, who observed that Bhattacharya’s interviews crossed the boundaries of fair comment. In his remarks, the judge noted, “I am of the opinion that at some places in the interviews which have been given by Bhattacharya, there is a clear personal tirade against Sanu which is prima facie qualified by words that are used therein.”

Sanu filed the petition through advocate Sana Raees Khan, who told the court that Bhattacharya had given multiple interviews to entertainment platforms, making serious allegations against the singer. These included claims that he mistreated her during pregnancy, denied her food, milk and medical care, confined her to household work, continued legal proceedings while she was expecting, and was involved in multiple affairs. Sanu has denied all allegations, calling them false and malicious.

Prior to approaching the court, Sanu issued a legal notice on September 27 to Bhattacharya and certain media portals, warning of criminal action under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita if the interviews were not taken down.

While the court restrained Bhattacharya and some independent media platforms from “writing, speaking, posting, publishing or disseminating” any allegedly defamatory material, it declined to immediately order the removal of existing interviews. Justice Jadhav clarified that the issue would be considered after responses from the defendants. The matter will be heard next on January 28.

The dispute traces back to interviews Bhattacharya gave last year to platforms including Viral Bhayani and Film Window. The suit also refers to the couple’s 2001 divorce agreement, which allegedly barred both parties from making allegations against each other.

Kumar Sanu and Rita Bhattacharya married in 1986, separated in 1994, and finalised their divorce in 2001. They share three sons.