Kumar Sanu Wins Gag Order Against Ex-Wife

MUMBAI – Veteran playback singer Kumar Sanu has secured a legal victory in his ongoing defamation battle. The court has passed an important interim order granting protection against the singer’s ex-wife, Rita Bhattacharya, along with digital giants Google and Meta and various unidentified “John Doe” defendants. This ruling restrains the circulation and publication of defamatory content targeting Sanu and directs digital intermediaries to take necessary action in accordance with the law to remove offending material.

The singer’s advocate, emphasized that this relief marks an essential step toward safeguarding the reputation and dignity of individuals in the digital age. This development follows a ₹50 crore defamation suit filed by Sanu against Bhattacharya. The Bombay High Court had previously refrained his ex-wife from giving contentious interviews against him.

Beyond the defamation suit, Sanu has been proactive in protecting his digital legacy. Last October, he filed a petition before the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights. This legal shield covers his name, voice, vocal style, mannerisms, images, and signature. The lawsuit specifically targeted the unauthorized commercial exploitation of these attributes, including AI-cloned voices, face morphing, and unlicensed merchandise, which risk diluting his persona and generating illicit revenue.

In response, the Delhi High Court granted interim protection and directed AI developers and digital platforms to take down unauthorized content imitating his likeness. The court also ordered the preservation of related data from named platforms and e-commerce sites to ensure long-term accountability. (IANS)