Renowned Bollywood playback singer Udit Narayan has found himself embroiled in a significant legal controversy following a formal complaint lodged by Ranjana Jha, who identifies herself as his first wife. The complaint was submitted to the Women's Police Station in the Supaul district of Bihar. Ranjana Jha has leveled grave accusations against the singer, including the non-consensual removal of her uterus (hysterectomy) under the guise of medical treatment. Accompanied by her legal counsel, she presented a detailed application to the authorities on Tuesday, seeking a thorough investigation into events spanning over three decades.
Allegations of Non-Consensual Surgery and Conspiracy
According to the formal complaint, the most serious allegation pertains to an incident in 1996. Ranjana Jha claims that Udit Narayan and his brothers took her to a prominent hospital in Delhi, promising better medical care for her ailments. She alleges that during this period, her uterus was surgically removed without her knowledge or informed consent, while the complainant stated that she only discovered the reality of this procedure years later during a routine medical examination for other health issues. She has named Udit Narayan, his brothers Sanjay Kumar Jha and Lalit Narayan Jha, and his second wife Deepa Narayan as co-conspirators in this alleged criminal act.
Background of Marriage and Claims of Bigamy
Ranjana Jha, the 61-year-old daughter of Chandrakant Jha from Supaul, detailed her marital history in the application. She asserts that she married Udit Narayan on December 7, 1984, following traditional Hindu rituals. Shortly after the marriage, in 1985, Udit Narayan moved to Mumbai to pursue his career in the music industry. Ranjana alleges that after achieving success, the singer distanced himself from her and entered into a second marriage with Deepa Narayan. She further claims that whenever she confronted him regarding these reports, he either denied the marriage or provided misleading information to keep her in the dark.
History of Neglect and Broken Settlements
The complainant has also highlighted a pattern of emotional and financial neglect. Ranjana Jha stated that in 2006, when she attempted to visit Udit Narayan in Mumbai to claim her rights, she was allegedly barred from entering his residence and mistreated. Subsequent attempts to seek refuge at her in-laws' house in Nepal were also met with hostility, forcing her to return to her paternal home in Supaul. She claims that while Udit Narayan had previously acknowledged her as his wife and promised a settlement, those commitments were never honored, while currently, she reports being in poor health and lacking the necessary financial support for her sustenance and medical needs.
Legal Analysis and Police Investigation
Legal experts suggest that the case presents significant procedural challenges due to the 30-year time lapse since the alleged surgery. Under Indian law, establishing evidence for such old claims requires extensive documentation and medical verification. However, performing a major surgery without consent is a serious criminal offense, while sHO Anju Tiwari of the Supaul Women's Police Station confirmed the receipt of the complaint and stated that a preliminary inquiry is underway. The police are currently focusing on verifying the claims and gathering historical medical records. Any further action, including the registration of a First Information Report (FIR), will depend on the findings of this initial probe.
Ultimately, these allegations have cast a shadow over the public persona of the veteran singer. Ranjana Jha has expressed her determination to seek justice, citing years of deception and physical trauma. As of now, there has been no official statement from Udit Narayan or his legal team regarding these specific allegations. The outcome of the police investigation will be crucial in determining the legal trajectory of this high-profile case and whether the charges of criminal conspiracy and medical negligence will hold in a court of law.