Smita Bharadwaj refutes Nitish Bharadwaj’s claims of her abducting the kids; says, ‘The allegations levelled against me are unfounded and false’ | – MASHAHER

Nitish Bharadwaj‘s wife, Smita Bharadwaj, an estranged bureaucrat, firmly refuted accusations of kidnapping their daughters as “baseless and malicious”. Smita, serving as the Additional Chief Secretary in Bhopal, is entangled in a legal battle with the actor, renowned for his portrayal of Lord Krishna in Mahabharat, in a pending case within the family court system.
On Monday, Smita Bharadwaj released a statement denouncing the “untrue and malicious” accusations, asserting that they were intended to tarnish her reputation and constitute defamation.Excerpts from the interaction:
On Nitish Bharadwaj’s allegations of his children being abducted by you
The allegations levelled against me are unfounded and false. Despite claims of communication issues, there have been established channels like a landline and SMS for two years, used regularly for child-related matters. On February 13, I reached out via SMS at 4:21 PM, receiving no response, contrary to the claim that Nitish Bharadwaj had made to the CP Bhopal stating that he can’t reach me. The same was even shared with the commissioner immediately.
Furthermore, a dedicated email address exists solely for court and child-related matters, accessible to our legal team. It’s concerning that emails were allegedly sent to defunct or blocked addresses, bypassing official channels. I remain committed to transparency and the well-being of the children, and these baseless accusations are regrettable distractions from the truth.
The sequence of events surrounding the alleged abduction claim paints a different picture. Typically, in such situations, one would attempt to contact me, try calling or sending a message, or contact family, friends, or lawyers first. However, instead of following this protocol or visit at the address that he has been shared via the family court, an immediate visit to the commissioner of police was made, skipping standard procedures like seeking an appointment with the CM. Despite efforts made by me to arrange a meeting on February 13th, the father declined, opting for a public spectacle with media and police presence, which understandably discomforted the children.
Moreover, in the subsequent press conference on February 14 in Bhopal, Mr. Bharadwaj failed to acknowledge the efforts made by the commissioner of police to facilitate a meeting with the kids. Instead, it focused on allegations without addressing the prior attempts at communication. This pattern of behaviour suggests a deliberate avoidance of direct engagement, potentially to create a narrative for the press conference. Furthermore, the notion of abduction is baseless, as a mother cannot abduct her own children, especially when all communication efforts were being channeled through legal avenues.
During the court proceedings on February 6, 2024, neither of us was present in Mumbai. However, through legal representation, it was clearly stated to Mr. Bharadwaj’s lawyers that the children had returned to me in Bhopal and were no longer enrolled in that school. Therefore, his lawyer would/ may have been informed him immediately of the children’s whereabouts at that time.
The provocative statements and narratives about a supposed incident in Goa are not only baseless but also reprehensible. These unfounded claims are deeply disturbing, especially considering the children have been under my care since childhood. Such assertions are both absurd and offensive and reflects poorly on Mr. Bharadwaj.
How many times have the kids met him in the last four years?
On three separate occasions, I extended invitations for him to meet the children, yet he consistently avoided them. Notably, during academic breaks, he failed to make a single visit to see the kids. Additionally, till date, he has never been present for their school admissions nor contributed to their fees or maintenance. I have been solely responsible for everything concerning our children.

As a mother, you want the father to be there with the kids?
I want him to be there; however the last time he met the children was in January 2024 in Pune (contrary to his claims of not knowing about their whereabouts), under court visitation orders. However, the meeting didn’t go well; as the children expressed discomfort meeting in such settings, leading to a distressing experience for them. Despite my hopes that he would reach out after his press conference, he did not. On the morning of February 16th, during my children’s final exams, media presence outside our home caused significant distress. Their privacy and well-being were compromised, prompting me to relocate them to a friend’s house temporarily. This ordeal has taken a toll on the children, yet his lack of concern for their welfare persists.
Amidst all these challenges, I want to share the remarkable achievements of my children. In 2020 and 2022, they authored and published two books, garnering recognition from esteemed figures like the Prime Minister of India, the ex-president, and the Dalai Lama. Moreover, they’ve excelled as spelling bee champions, with Devyani ranking as world number two in the international Spelling Bee competition. Both girls have proudly represented India on numerous occasions, accumulating over 30 trophies for their diverse accomplishments. They have also recently won “Indian Young Influencer Award” in Jan 2024.

Do the children tell you to patch up with each other?
It’s distressing to witness the emotional toll this conflict takes on our children. During his meetings with them, he paints a negative picture of me and my family, even going so far as to claim that the court has deemed him “good” and me “bad.” However, children don’t want to choose sides, they just want love and support from both parents. His absence from the scheduled meeting on the 13th, seemingly to play the victim in a subsequent press conference, further made the situation bad.
In an effort to facilitate constructive dialogue, I proactively reached out to the Commissioner of Police, setting conditions for a meeting to ensure privacy and a conducive environment. His refusal to engage in unsupervised access, as per his own application in family court, necessitated the presence of an investigating officer. During the meeting, his excuses about communication inconsistencies were debunked by our children’s astute observations. Despite having ample means of communication, such as our landline and SMS, he failed to utilise them in times of crisis, opting for dramatic public displays to malign me and garner sympathy.
It’s disheartening to see him prioritize sensationalising the situation over the well-being of our children. His attempts to garner sympathy through media manipulation and political connections only serve to further destabilise the delicate family dynamic. In times of distress, it’s imperative to prioritise the safety and emotional stability of our children over personal agendas and public image.

What is your plan now?
I have not filed for divorce. He has filed for it.
What went wrong?
He issued an ultimatum: resign from my job or end the marriage. It’s an absurd demand that I would’ve never agreed to at the outset. Despite his claims in court that I went back on a promise, there was never any such agreement, especially not in a pre-nup. In fact, he knew about my job and my commitment to the same, when we married.
In 2022, he spoke to TOI about divorce, causing immense distress to our children, who faced teasing and ridicule at school. Despite our daughters’ plea to avoid media attention during their visit to Ooty, he went to another media house and announced the divorce on January 19. When confronted by the kids about this, he shamelessly denied it, causing further upset.
On February 17, Nitish didn’t approach his daughters as a father, but with demands for proof and documents, showing a clear agenda. His actions suggested a prioritisation of media spectacle over genuine parental engagement, evident in his reluctance to meet the kids until after gaining media sympathy. This manipulation has deeply affected our children, who just want to be shielded from further publicity and scrutiny.
What is the way forward?
Despite a court order to pay maintenance in 2022, he has only complied once, a clear violation of the court’s directive. His justification for non-payment, citing inability to meet the children, is baseless. When I took the children to meet him, they were sent back in tears, deeply distraught by the encounter. They expressed their anguish over the impact of false news on their lives, a reality neither he nor I fully comprehend.
On multiple occasions, he has refused to allow us into his home, insisting we stay at hotels at our own expense. When arrangements were made to visit him in Pune, he pretended his illness and hence couldn’t travel. When we decided to check on his well being and traveled to Mumbai, he said that he is extremely fine and claimed urgent business travel, leaving our children disappointed and confused, as he refused to meet them/us. He disconnected the video call made by kids and blocked my number and told us not to come home at all. This episode happened during festive occasions like Navratri, when he never travels. He prioritized his personal meetings over spending time with his family, further exacerbating the emotional strain on our children. His refusal to engage in meaningful communication, evident in his blocking of video calls, underscores his disregard for our children’s well-being.
Does he have a mental health issue?
There’s speculation going around, but I can’t confirm anything definitively. He’s pressuring me for money, dangling the idea that if I quit my job, our marriage can continue, or else I must pay for a divorce. He’s been secretly recording our conversations since 2016, a revelation that blindsided us.
He believes our joint apartment in Pune could jeopardize his assets due to an ongoing legal case with Prasar Bharti. To safeguard his personal interests, he’s insisted the property be solely in my name. I have made my own contributions towards its purchase, which he now wants to claim. And assets owned by me. His demands for reimbursement, even for trivial expenses like milk, highlight his unreasonable behaviour. Despite my efforts to maintain stability and provide for our children, he continues to manipulate situations to his advantage.
Attempts to reconcile during his visits to Pune and Indore last year were thwarted by his refusal to meet our children for more than an hour, despite his claims to the contrary. His disregard for their emotional well-being and his propensity for deception only serve to harm our family dynamics. This is why I’ve chosen to speak out now, after a year and a half, to set the record straight and protect our children from further harm.
Why does he want to separate? What is the reason he’s given in?
I can’t provide an explanation for his demands, but he’s adamant about me quitting my job. Additionally, he’s made numerous false accusations against me. That’s why my lawyer advised me to stand firm and challenge his baseless claims. It’s important to confront these unfounded accusations rather than simply accepting them.