The Court restrained Rita Bhattacharya and media from making defamatory statements about the singer.
Bombay High Court Grants Kumar Sanu Interim Gag Order in ₹50 Crore Defamation Case Justice Milind Jadhav has provided interim relief to singer Kumar Sanu by restraining his ex-wife, Rita Bhattacharya, and certain media outlets from publishing or broadcasting defamatory statements. The order prohibits the dissemination of any false or slanderous content regarding the singer or his family across all platforms.
“The Court observed that Bhattacharya’s statements exceeded the legal protections afforded to fair criticism or opinion.”
“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.”
The Bombay High Court has issued an interim injunction against Rita Bhattacharya, prohibiting her from sharing any defamatory or misleading content about Kumar Sanu across digital, social media, and print platforms. During the proceedings, Sanu’s counsel, Sana Raees Khan, detailed the severe fallout from Bhattacharya’s September 2025 YouTube interviews, which amassed over 1.5 million views.
These broadcasts allegedly triggered a wave of online abuse and caused significant financial damage, including the cancellation of international concerts. While the court granted immediate protection against new statements, it deferred a decision on deleting existing videos until the defendants—including representatives for Google and Meta—file their formal responses.
In response to the suit, Bhattacharya’s legal team, led by Advocate Atif Shaikh, proposed referring the matter to mediation, citing the couple’s son’s recent marriage as a reason for a peaceful resolution.
Justice Milind Jadhav acknowledged this request but emphasized that Bhattacharya must strictly refrain from making any further insinuations or causing additional reputational harm in the interim relief.
The Bombay High Court has scheduled the next hearing for January 28, by which time Sanu must clarify if he is willing to pursue mediation without compromising his legal standing.