Exclusive - Sana Raees Khan on defending Rupali Ganguly and protecting clients: 'No one should silently suffer character assassination'

Sana Raees Khan

When high-profile celebrities enter courtrooms, their legal battles often spill into public debates, headlines and become hashtags. But for Supreme Court lawyer and former Bigg Boss contestant Sana Raees Khan, the role of a lawyer is not just to win cases but also to protect her clients’ 'dignity.'

In an exclusive conversation with Moneycontrol, Sana Raees Khan spoke about representing Anupamaa actor Rupali Ganguly in her ongoing legal dispute with her stepdaughter, handling another actress Hunar Hale’s divorce case. And Sana also spoke about why she believes law must always take precedence over media trials.

'Rupali’s dignity was under attack'

Sana Raees Khan is representing Anupamaa star Rupali Ganguly, who recently approached the Bombay High Court against her stepdaughter.

"Rupali approached the court because her dignity was under attack through false and defamatory allegations. No one - celebrity or not - should be compelled to silently suffer character assassination. We have secured strong interim relief from the Bombay High Court which itself shows that the court found merit in her grievance. For me, it doesn’t matter whether my client is a celebrity or a common citizen, the foundation is always the law and evidence and I pay equal attention to each case," she told us during her visit to Delhi last week.

Sana is also handling another high profile divorce case of Tv actress Hunar Hale.

Actor Hunar Hale’s divorce battle has also been closely tracked by the media. But Sana insists media glare does not shape her legal strategy and that she is more vigilant in such cases as they can be 'sensationalised'.

"Media glare doesn’t change my legal strategy, but it does make me more vigilant. In Hunar’s case, as in any matrimonial dispute, I know every statement can be sensationalised. So, I ensure the filings, arguments and even the language used is precise and dignified. The goal is not just to win the case legally, but to protect my client’s dignity outside the courtroom as well,” she said.

Balancing law and dignity

Sana said she believes that for celebrities, the cost of litigation is not limited to legal fees – their privacy is often stripped bare.

“Celebrities are often stripped of their privacy the moment they step into court. As their lawyer, I act as both their legal shield and their dignity shield. I never allow the case to be reduced to gossip. Legal strategy must be sharp, but equally important is ensuring that the human being behind the ‘celebrity’ is respected throughout the process," she adds.

With high-profile clients, lawyers are often accused of becoming part of the spectacle. Sana pushes back firmly and says she 'let the law do the talking.'

“I have always believed the courtroom is not a stage and lawyers are not performers. Media bytes may come and go, but the law is permanent. For me, the greatest victory is when the judgment speaks for itself. Media attention may fade, but judgments remain forever. I let the law do the talking," said Sana.

On media trials and preferential treatment

Sana Raees Khan also spoke about the dangers of media trials and says she limits 'public statements.'

“A client can be declared guilty in public opinion long before a court hears the facts. My job is to create a firewall, I limit public statements, I move courts for gag orders when necessary, and most importantly, I remind my clients to trust the process. Courts deliver justice, not hashtags," she further added.

We asked her if a celebrity gets undue advantages, Sana rejected the idea and said: "That’s a misconception. In fact, celebrity cases are often judged with greater scrutiny because of the spotlight. The law doesn’t bend for anyone, nor should it. If anything, my high-profile clients face harsher public criticism. The only ‘preferential treatment’ they get from me is the assurance that I will fight their case with the same commitment I would for any other citizen."

Settlements before battles

On sensitive cases like divorces, Sana says she prefers settlement over litigation, unless pushed otherwise.

“Litigation is not war, it’s a means to justice. In family disputes, I always explore settlement first because court battles can scar families for life. But when the other side is unreasonable, manipulative or abusive, then the fight must go to court and I don’t hesitate. The decision is never about ego, it’s always about what best serves the client’s long-term peace and rights," she believes.

Among her toughest cases, Sana Raees Khan recalls the 2018 Pune beheading case.

"Every case challenges you in some way, but one that stands out is the 2018 Pune beheading case where I defended an innocent man wrongly convicted for killing the deceased by cutting his head and private parts. The stakes were life and death and when the High Court suspended his sentence after years in prison, it reaffirmed for me that as a lawyer, you’re not just fighting for clients, sometimes you’re fighting against a miscarriage of justice itself. That shaped my resolve to never give up, however uphill the battle may seem," she added.

Sana Raees Khan is known for handling high profile cases. She was also a contestant on the celebrity reality show Bigg Boss.