Singer Kumar Sanu’s ex-wife and Jaan Kumar Sanu’s mother, Rita Bhattacharya, says she was shocked when she received a defamation notice filed against her by her former husband. Speaking to Bombay Times, Rita reacts to the legal action, the amount mentioned in the notice, and the impact it has had on her and her three sons.‘He is asking for 50 crores’“I’m shocked. He is filing a case against the mother of his three grown-up sons,” she says. While reports suggest that Sanu is seeking ₹30 lakh as compensation, Rita claims that the notice she received mentions a much higher figure. “The paper he has sent me, he is asking for 50 crores. I don’t know how Sanu is dreaming that I have so much money. It is really sad,” she laments.

Rita questions why she has been singled out when others (hinting at his ex-girlfriend Kunickaa Sadanand) have spoken publicly as well. “He is attacking me without attacking any other person. He is filing a case against me, not about the other people who are talking and inciting things. What is being discussed elsewhere is more insulting, and it is very insulting for my children also,” she points out.The issue traces back to Kunickaa recently speaking about her past relationship with a married man (Kumar Sanu) inside the Bigg Boss house. Her comments drew a public reaction from Rita and escalated further when her son, Jaan Sanu, criticised Kunickaa.

‘He has always blocked us’Asked if she tried speaking to Sanu to clear the air, Rita maintains that there has been no communication between them for years. “I never got a chance to talk to him. Neither me nor my children ever got a chance to talk to him because he has always blocked us. I tried to call Sanu, but he never took our calls. We are blocked on his number,” she says, adding that she attempted to reach out through his office earlier when stuff has . “I contacted his secretary and requested him to please stop this. It is a very big insult. My son was getting married, and the in-laws were asking questions. I requested many times. I have all the messages and recordings on my phone,” she recalls.‘ I will meet Sanu in the court after 31 years’Calling the situation humiliating, Rita says, “This is very insulting. My children are not kids. They are grown-up men. My elder son will be 37, my second son will be 34, and Jaan is already 31. I don’t think it is their crime that they are answering people. They did nothing.”She adds that returning to court at this stage of her life is especially painful. “I am 63 years old, and again I have to fight in court. The first time he took me to court, I was pregnant with Jaan. Now again, at this age, I have to go through this. I will meet Sanu in the court after 31 years.”Rita also reveals that she is planning to file a counter-case. “I will see him in the court. And I will request Sanu with folded hands — just try to be a good human being and be the father of my three children. If you can’t love us, at least don’t disturb us and don’t harass us anymore,” she concludes.

India is emerging as a rare bright spot in retail at a time when shopping malls across Western economies are facing sustained closures, according to real estate consultancy firm Anarock.Since 2020, the US has recorded a net shutdown of nearly 1,200 mall stores, with rising vacancy levels pushing almost 40 per cent of empty malls toward rezoning or alternative use. India, however, is seeing renewed momentum in its retail segment, backed by strong consumption trends and growing interest from institutional investors, real estate consultancy firm Anarock said, as quoted by ANI.This confidence is translating into capital inflows. Indian shopping malls are projected to attract more than $3.5 billion in investments over the next three years, according to Anuj Kejriwal, CEO, Retail Leasing and Industrial and Logistics, Anarock Group. “88+ foreign brands have entered the Indian retail market and are seeking to expand aggressively. Several more global brands are in the pipeline, seeking space in the severely restricted Grade-A assets currently available,” Kejriwal said.At the core of India’s retail appeal is a combination of a young consumer base and limited organised retail competition. Hoeeber, Anarock pointed out that India’s organised retail supply remains significantly constrained, with per-capita retail stock among the lowest globally compared with markets such as the US and China.“This gap, combined with India’s per-capita income nearly doubling in the last decade, has created a demand-supply mismatch virtually unheard of in global retail,” Kejriwal added.Operational performance reflects this imbalance. Premium malls are operating at near-maximum capacity, with occupancy levels ranging between 95 and 100 per cent, while rental growth continues to outpace pre-pandemic benchmarks.“Grade-A malls are running near-full occupancy, reporting 95-100 per cent occupancy with long waitlists for key zones. Rental growth has consistently surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and developers now find leasing cycles outpacing construction cycles — a rarity anywhere in the world,” also said the CEO.Additionally, Indian malls have evolved into multi-purpose destinations rather than pure shopping centres. With daily visitor counts surpassing 20,000 on weekdays and surpassing 40,000 on weekends, entertainment, dining, and social interaction serve as the main drivers of foot traffic. Thirty to thirty-five percent of all foot traffic comes from entertainment and food and drink.Anarock also emphasized how resilient Indian retail has been in the face of the global e-commerce boom. Online retail penetration in India stands at around 8 per cent, well below the 20 per cent-plus levels seen in the US and China, allowing physical retail to coexist and even benefit from digital channels.Looking ahead, according to the consultancy, India is expected to grow into a $6 trillion consumption economy by 2030, solidifying its standing as a major growth market for international retailers and investors looking for long-term prospects.

Pakistan U19 produced a masterclass performance to crush India U19 by a massive 191 runs in the final and clinch the U19 Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai on Sunday (December 21). This is Pakistan’s second U19 Asia Cup title and their first since 2013, when they jointly won the cup with India.

The U19 Asia Cup 2025 final was dominated by Pakistan U19 from the very start against India U19. Sameer Minhas was the star of their title triumph in Dubai. After being asked to bat first by India U19, Pakistan set a huge target of 347/8 in 50 overs, thanks to Minhas’ sensational knock of 172 runs off just 113 balls.

Sameer Minhas’ 172 powers Pakistan to second U19 Asia Cup title

He raced to his century in only 71 balls and created history by registering the highest individual score ever in an U19 Asia Cup final. Ahmed Hussain was also impressive, hitting an excellent 56 and adding 137 runs with Minhas to help Pakistan post a formidable total on the board.

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Read Also: Vaibhav Suryavanshi involved in ugly fight with Ali Raza after failure in India vs Pakistan U19 Asia Cup final

Chasing the target, India U19 had a terrible star, as they lost five wickets inside the first 10 overs, including captain Ayush Mhatre and batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The top-order collapse put India on the back foot, and the rest of the batting lineup couldn’t handle the pressure.

Sarfaraz Ahmed behind India’s disaster!!

Deepesh Devendran showed great courage by playing a blistering knock of 36 runs off 16 balls, but they had already lost the match much before. India was eventually bowled out for just 156 runs, handing Pakistan a commanding 191-run victory in the summit clash in Dubai.

The U19 Asia Cup 2025 final brought back the memories of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final, where Pakistan had suffered heavy defeat in the group stages against India but came back strongly to win the final in England.

Interestingly, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Pakistan’s Champions Trophy-winning captain, is now mentoring this U19 side, making this victory more special for them.

What Sameer Minhas Said After Final?

After the match, Sameer Minhas was named both the Player of the Match for his incredible 172 in the final and Player of the Tournament for being the leading run scorer with 471 runs in just five games.

Read Also: “Teri maa ki…”: Ayush Mhatre brutally abuses Pakistanis as all 11 players gang up for nasty send-off

Minhas said after winning the awards, “It was a good innings by me; I only had in mind to score runs for the team. There was no such pressure for me; I only wanted to play my natural game and did so. We wanted to bat first because it was like a batting track. Very memorable for me.”

Sunil Joshi left heartbroken after India U19 suffers embarrassing defeat in U19 Asia Cup 2025 Final

On the other hand, India’s ultra-aggressive approach backfired in the big match. The top-order’s risky shots and the inability to build partnerships under pressure led to the team’s collapse. It was the second-largest defeat by runs in an U19 Asia Cup final.

The heartbreak was visible in the Indian camp, with the coach and support staff deeply affected by the heavy defeat. A picture is making rounds on social media, where India U19 head coach Sunil Joshi was seen in tears following the heartbreaking end of their campaign in the UAE.

Team India’s coach in Tears when India lost the U19 Asia Cup Final. 💔 pic.twitter.com/KYRQssIa1m

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) December 21, 2025

India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues greet Sri Lankan players (PTI Photo)

Jemimah Rodrigues played a brilliant innings to help India register a comfortable win over Sri Lanka in the first Women’s T20 International on Sunday. She remained unbeaten on 69 runs from 44 balls, showcasing great control and confidence throughout her knock. Her performance helped India win the match by eight wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. India chose to field first and did well to restrict Sri Lanka to 121 runs for six wickets. The Sri Lankan batters found it difficult to score freely, even when they were given loose balls. Dew arrived earlier than expected, but the Indian bowlers adjusted well and kept things under control. During the chase, India made light work of the target and finished the match with 32 balls still remaining. Jemimah Rodrigues played the anchor role and built important partnerships. She added 54 runs with Smriti Mandhana, who scored 25 runs off 25 balls, and later shared a 55-run stand with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who stayed not out on 15 off 16 balls. Rodrigues played several classy shots, but the standout moment of her innings came when she smashed four boundaries in a single over bowled by left-arm wrist spinner Shashini Gimhani. That over tilted the game firmly in India’s favour. India’s innings began aggressively, with Shafali Verma hitting three boundaries in the very first over. However, she could not stay long at the crease and was dismissed soon after. Mandhana had a few lucky moments early on but settled well before becoming the latest batter to cross 4,000 T20I runs. Her innings was cut short by Inoka Ranaweera, but by then India was well in control. Earlier, Sri Lanka’s innings was held together by opener Vishmi Gunaratne, who top-scored with 39 runs off 43 balls. Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama also contributed with small but useful scores. India’s bowlers remained disciplined despite the wet ball. Deepti Sharma bowled economically, while debutant Vaishnavi Sharma impressed on her international debut with a tight four-over spell, conceding just 16 runs.