Divya Sathyaraj Files Rs 1 Crore Defamation Suit Against Actor Bayilvan Ranganathan

Divya Sathyaraj, a nutritionist and daughter of actor Sathyaraj, has filed a Rs 1 crore defamation suit against actor Bayilvan Ranganathan in the Madras High Court. The legal action follows remarks allegedly made by Ranganathan regarding Divya's views on marriage and relationships, which were shared during a recent YouTube interview. Justice K. Govindarajan Thilakavathi heard the matter on September 24 and granted interim relief to the plaintiff.

The controversy stems from an interview where Divya Sathyaraj discussed her perspective on marriage, stating that couples should remain together based on mutual affection rather than societal or religious obligations. She specifically noted her lack of a horoscope, citing her father's personal beliefs. Following these comments, Bayilvan Ranganathan reportedly addressed her views in a separate interview on the YouTube channel Puthiya Sinthanai. Divya has alleged that the statements made during this broadcast were false and defamatory, prompting her to seek legal recourse.

In her lawsuit, Divya Sathyaraj has requested Rs 1 crore in damages from both Bayilvan Ranganathan and Mohideen, the proprietor of the Puthiya Sinthanai channel. The suit also seeks 12% interest on the damages, calculated from the date of filing until the amount is realized. Furthermore, she has petitioned for a permanent injunction to prevent Ranganathan from publishing or broadcasting further defamatory content.

The Madras High Court has granted interim protection, restraining Ranganathan from circulating the allegedly objectionable statements. Additionally, the court has directed Google LLC, Facebook India Online Services Private Limited, and X Corp to prevent the dissemination of the material on their respective platforms. The court observed that a prima facie case had been established, noting that the statements could cause significant harm to Divya's reputation and goodwill.

Judicial procedures concerning online content often involve evaluations of a prima facie case alongside claims of potential harm. Interim injunctions and related takedown directives generally follow established timelines that can vary depending on the specific court and listing.

This legal development follows a period of increased online attention toward Divya Sathyaraj. Earlier this year, her father, actor Sathyaraj, publicly addressed rumors regarding his daughter on social media, specifically refuting false claims about her personal life that had been fueled by AI generated images. The defamation suit remains pending before the Madras High Court, with further proceedings expected to address the claim for damages.