The controversy surrounding Bigg Boss 20 contestant Riti Tiwari has now moved beyond the reality show, with Punjabi singer Ekam Bawa making a series of claims about her family background.
Ekam Bawa has claimed that he married Rani Tiwari, the former wife of actor Manoj Tiwari, and that they have not been legally divorced. Based on this claim, he has further alleged that Riti Tiwari is his legal daughter.
However, Riti Tiwari's team has strongly rejected the allegations, describing them as false and defamatory. The team has also indicated that legal action has been initiated against Ekam Bawa.
Riti Tiwari's Team Calls Claims False
Riti Tiwari is currently inside the Bigg Boss house and cannot directly respond to the controversy taking place outside. Her social media accounts have therefore issued a statement on behalf of her team.
The statement described Ekam Bawa's allegations as false and defamatory. The team appealed to media organisations to verify the facts before publishing any claims and to give the family an opportunity to present its side.
The team also said that necessary legal proceedings had been initiated against Ekam Bawa in connection with the allegations.
Ekam Bawa Says He and His Family Are Receiving Threats
Following the statement from Riti Tiwari's team, Ekam Bawa released a video to present his side of the matter. He claimed that he and his family had been receiving threats.
The singer said he had been seeking a divorce for a long time but alleged that the divorce had still not taken place. He also levelled serious allegations against Riti and her mother.
Ekam said he was only trying to put his side of the matter before the public and appealed for the alleged threats against him to stop. However, these allegations have not been independently verified.
Dispute Also Involves ₹25,000 Expense Claim
The controversy intensified further after Ekam Bawa questioned a statement reportedly made by Riti Tiwari inside the Bigg Boss house about receiving ₹25,000 for expenses.
The singer claimed that Riti lives a luxurious lifestyle and alleged that she has assets worth crores of rupees. However, no independently verified information supporting these claims has emerged so far.
The allegations and counterclaims have added another layer to the ongoing controversy surrounding Riti Tiwari's participation in Bigg Boss 20. While Ekam Bawa has continued to make claims about his alleged relationship with Riti and her mother, Riti's team has rejected the allegations and said that legal action is being pursued.