Actor Rupali Ganguly has taken a legal stand against her stepdaughter, Esha Verma, who recently accused her of ‘bullying’ and manipulating her father, Ashwin K Verma. Ganguly, through her lawyer Sana Raees Khan, has issued a defamation notice seeking ₹50 crores in damages, claiming Esha’s statements are false and harmful.
Ganguly’s legal team argues that Esha’s accusations, shared on social media and in interviews, were aimed at tarnishing her reputation. Esha alleged that Ganguly was involved in an extramarital relationship with her father while he was still married to her mother, Sapna. “Rupali firmly stands against defamatory tactics for publicity and has taken this step to protect her reputation from unfounded claims,” said lawyer Khan, adding that the accusations were intended to harm Ganguly’s personal and professional integrity.
The notice, reviewed by HT City, addresses Esha directly, expressing shock at the posts shared on platforms such as Twitter (now X), Instagram, and Facebook. The document calls on Esha to “put the true and correct facts forward.”
Background
The controversy began when a Reddit post featuring old comments from Esha surfaced, accusing Ganguly of being “cruel-hearted” and claiming an affair with her father. The post went viral, prompting Ashwin Verma to issue a denial on X. Esha, however, responded with a post on Instagram, suggesting a “darker side to the story” and asking for compassion as the matter unfolded.
In an interview with HT City, Esha further alleged that Ganguly threatened her mother, limited her contact with her father, and created a hostile environment during her visits to India. “If I spoke to him on call, she’d scream in the background… I was always afraid to go to India,” Esha shared.
Ganguly’s Response: “Shocked and Deeply Disturbed”
In the notice, Ganguly states she was “shocked and deeply disturbed” by the accusations, especially as she had supported Esha’s acting ambitions. The notice claims Ganguly provided Esha with photo shoots, auditions, and guidance to help her break into the industry, emphasizing the actor’s positive relationship with her stepdaughter.
The notice asserts that Esha’s public statements are defamatory, degrading, and have led to financial and reputational damage for Ganguly. The legal proceedings underscore Ganguly’s determination to counteract what she sees as baseless allegations.
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