Court Orders Restraint on Defamatory Statements; Suggests Mediation for Familial Dispute
In a significant ruling, the Bombay High Court has granted ad-interim relief to Sanu Bhattacharjee, popularly known as Kumar Sanu, in his defamation suit against his estranged wife, Rita Bhattacharya. The court has issued an injunction restraining Rita Bhattacharya and others from making any defamatory, slanderous, or libelous statements against the plaintiff. The decision comes in light of claims by Bhattacharjee that certain interviews and statements made by the defendants have caused severe personal and financial damage.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Milind N. Jadhav observed that the statements made by Defendant No.1 contained personal tirades against the plaintiff, which prima facie appeared to be defamatory. The court highlighted that the couple had been legally separated for over 32 years, a factor crucial to the case. In light of the familial relationship and recent developments, including the marriage of their son, the court advised mediation as an alternative resolution mechanism.
The court's order follows a series of contentious interviews and social media posts by Defendant No.1, leading to the plaintiff suffering immense financial loss due to the cancellation of his shows abroad. The court acknowledged the plaintiff's need to protect his personality rights, as previously upheld by the Delhi High Court.
Advocates for both parties presented their arguments, with Ms. Sana Raees Khan representing the plaintiff and Mr. Atif Noor Hasan Shaikh representing Defendant No.1. The court directed the defendants to file an Affidavit-in-Reply concerning the objectionable interviews and prayer clauses, with a consideration for the deletion of said interviews to follow.
The case is set to return to court on January 28, 2026, for further directions regarding mediation and to address remaining issues. Meanwhile, the court has emphasized that no further defamatory content should be disseminated by the defendants until the interim application is resolved.
Bottom Line:
Court grants ad-interim relief restraining defamatory, slanderous, or libelous statements against Plaintiff by Defendant No.1 and others, considering the personal and financial damage caused to Plaintiff due to contentious interviews and statements.
Statutory provision(s): Civil Procedure Code, 1908.
Sanu Bhattacharjee @ Kumar Sanu v. Rita Bhattacharya, (Bombay) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2842598
