HARIDWAR: Former BJP MLA from Jwalapur constituency, Haridwar, Suresh Rathore, on Wednesday refuted claims that he married Saharanpur-based actress Urmila Sanawar, a week after publicly introducing her as his second wife.
He said the widely-shared images of what appeared to be his wedding were actually scenes from a film he is producing. The assertion followed a disciplinary notice from BJP's state unit, asking him to explain how this public display squared with the state's Uniform Civil Code, which criminalises polygamy (Rathore hasn't divorced his first wife).
At a press event in Saharanpur just days earlier, the Rathore had declared, "Urmila's love has won," and described her as part of his family. The moment was captured on video and shared widely on social media, prompting Congress to accuse BJP of shielding its own leaders from UCC provisions while using them against others. The actress, too, updated her social media profile to "Urmila Suresh Rathore" and posted visuals of Rathore acknowledging their relation.
Rathore now insists the entire episode was cinematic. "There is no certificate, no vermilion, no garland. The visuals of the marriage are from ‘Bhabhi Ji Vidhayak Hain', a film I am producing," he told TOI.
Sanawar, however, maintained that they were married in Nepal. The dispute traces back about a year, when Rathore, presenting himself as a self-proclaimed religious leader of Dalits, introduced Urmila as his disciple. Shortly after, she claimed they had wed. Rathore filed a complaint of blackmail; she responded with allegations of assault. Rathore now says those issues have been "settled".
Uttarakhand Congress spokesperson Garima Mehra Dasauni criticised BJP's inaction. "He accepted the woman, now says it was a film. Is this a joke?"