Bollywood playback legend Kumar Sanu has issued a legal notice to his former wife Rita Bhattacharya after her recent allegations accusing him and his family of denying her food and medical care during her third pregnancy. The 67-year-old singer, represented by his lawyer Sana Raees Khan, has taken legal recourse following the claims made in a recent interview.
In a statement, Kumar Sanu’s lawyer defended the singer’s reputation, calling the accusations false and damaging. “For over 40 years, Mr. Kumar Sanu has poured his soul into music, giving joy to millions and earning love and respect across the world. Hurtful lies may create noise for a moment, but they can never erase the legacy of an artist who has given a lifetime of music and memories to generations,” the statement read.
She further stressed that the singer’s honour would be protected. “We will ensure that malicious attempts to defame him are met with the full force of the law to protect his dignity, legacy and family honour. No individual or media platform has the right to malign a father’s honour or trade his family’s respect for sensationalism,” she added.
Rita Bhattacharya, however, has levelled serious charges against her former husband. Speaking to Siddharth Kannan, she alleged: “He denied them milk. He denied them medical care. You don’t know how much this man has tortured my children. The milkman told me he’d been told not to come over anymore, but he still gave me milk. Same with the doctor who delivered all three of my sons.”
She also recalled the hardships she faced after their separation. “I have seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in life,” Rita said, adding that during their divorce, she was given only Rs 100 and had to sell her jewellery to survive.
Remembering the 2005 Mumbai floods, she alleged that her ex-husband showed no concern when their children went missing during the chaos. “I was looking for them all night. It was terrifying. Even then, that man didn’t ask if his children are okay,” she said, referring to their sons Zico and Jaan.
Kumar Sanu and Rita Bhattacharya married in 1980, years before the singer rose to fame as one of Bollywood’s most celebrated voices. Their marriage ended in 1994 after a difficult phase, during which Sanu was also linked to actor Kunickaa Sadanand. In 2001, he married Saloni Bhattacharya, with whom he shares two daughters.
