The legendary Indian playback singer Kumar Sanu has secured a comprehensive legal victory in his 50-crore BDT defamation battle against his former wife, Rita Bhattacharya. In a ruling that has sent ripples through the entertainment industry, the court has officially restrained Bhattacharya from making any further derogatory public statements regarding the singer’s personal life or character.
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A Reputation Under Siege
The legal saga began several months ago when Rita Bhattacharya appeared in a string of high-profile interviews, levelling grave accusations against the “King of Melody.” She alleged that she had been subjected to severe emotional neglect during her pregnancy and accused Sanu of multiple extramarital affairs.
The controversy intensified after actress Kunika Sadanand, during an appearance on the reality television show Bigg Boss, spoke openly about her previous relationship with the singer. These combined claims prompted a media firestorm, which Sanu’s legal team argued was a coordinated attempt at character assassination intended to derail the veteran artist’s career and mental well-being.
The Legal Stand-off: Key Facts
| Subject | Description |
| Litigant | Kumar Sanu (Award-winning Vocalist) |
| Defendant | Rita Bhattacharya (Ex-wife) |
| Lawsuit Amount | 500 Million BDT (Approx. 360m INR) |
| Primary Complaint | Malicious defamation and professional sabotage |
| Legal Trigger | Viral interviews and Bigg Boss revelations |
| Court Mandate | Permanent injunction against derogatory remarks |
The Verdict: Protecting the Artist
During the proceedings, Sanu’s solicitors contended that the “reckless” allegations had caused the singer not only profound psychological distress but also tangible financial damage due to the loss of endorsements and professional opportunities. They successfully argued that as a cultural icon with a legacy spanning decades, Sanu’s reputation deserved protection from unsubstantiated public venting.
The court ultimately sided with the singer, observing that the right to freedom of speech does not extend to the deliberate tarnishing of another individual’s public image. The judge issued a strict restraining order, forbidding Rita Bhattacharya from making any further disparaging remarks about Sanu in the press or on social media platforms.
The Cost of Scandal
While the court has provided the immediate relief of a “gag order,” the financial implications of the 50-crore BDT claim remain a point of discussion. For Sanu, the win is less about the monetary compensation and more about reclaiming his narrative. In a career defined by the romantic ballads of 1990s Bollywood, the singer has always prioritised a “clean” public persona, which this verdict seeks to restore.
The ruling serves as a stern warning regarding the legal consequences of “tell-all” interviews that cross the line into defamation. As the news broke, fans of the singer across the subcontinent expressed relief, hoping that the judicial intervention would finally bring an end to a messy public feud.