Last November, Rupali Ganguly lodged a ₹50 crore defamation lawsuit against her stepdaughter, Esha Verma, at the Bombay High Court via her attorney, Sana Raees Khan. It has now come to light that the ‘Anupamaa’ star has also embarked on criminal defamation proceedings against Esha at the Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Andheri, with the application filed on January 7.
The complaint is not only seeking punitive measures against Esha for her alleged actions under the law but also requests the defendant’s presence, her trial, and the imposition of penalties in accordance with the defamation provisions as outlined in Section 356 and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Lawyer Sana Raees Khan has confirmed, “Indeed, we have pursued a criminal defamation complaint following the civil action. Both civil and criminal routes are being followed. No one should face the anguish of public defamation without repercussions for the offender. This case exemplifies that justice serves as protection against malicious attempts to damage one’s reputation.”
Recently, the Bombay High Court granted Rupali temporary relief, prohibiting Esha from disseminating any defamatory content about her. The conflict ignited when Esha accused Rupali of having an affair with her father, Ashish K. Verma, during his marriage to her mother, Sapna. Esha further claimed that Rupali played a role in her parents’ separation, took her mother’s jewelry, and issued threats against her. These allegations, shared via interviews and social media, prompted Rupali to file the initial defamation case on November 11.
In her notice, Rupali contended that Esha’s actions had “damaged her reputation, compromised her dignity, and negatively impacted her career, resulting in notable financial losses.” She also sought a public apology for involving her young son in the dispute and cautioned of further legal steps should Esha not comply. Following this, Esha deleted all posts pertaining to Rupali from social media and made her Instagram account