Rhiti Tiwari's mother Pratima Pandey denies Ekam Bawa's step-father claims
Synopsis
With Rhiti Tiwari locked inside the Bigg Boss 20 house and unable to speak for herself, her mother Pratima Pandey has fired a legal broadside — issuing a public notice on 28 September that flatly denies Ekam Bawa's claims of being her step-father and husband, and warning media platforms that republishing the allegations could make them legally liable.
Key Takeaways
A legal public notice dated 28 September was issued on behalf of Pratima Pandey and Rhiti Tiwari denying all claims made by Ekam Bawa .
Ekam Bawa , also identified as Parminder Kumar Bawa and Ekam Bains , had allegedly claimed to be Rhiti's step-father and Pratima Pandey's legally wedded husband.
The notice states Bawa 'holds no such legal status or relationship' with the family. 'Serious legal action, civil and criminal,' has reportedly been initiated against Bawa.
Media platforms have been asked to remove related content and publish the public notice in its place, with a warning of liability for republication.
Rhiti Tiwari is currently inside the Bigg Boss 20 house and is unable to personally respond to the controversy.
Bigg Boss 20 contestant Rhiti Tiwari, daughter of BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, and her mother Pratima Pandey have issued a legal public notice denying claims made by a man identifying himself as Rhiti's step-father, calling his allegations 'false, baseless' and defamatory. The notice, dated 28 September 2026, was issued from Mumbai and has been directed against an individual identified as Ekam Bawa, also referred to as Parminder Kumar Bawa and Ekam Bains.
What the Legal Notice Says
The public notice, issued under the instructions of Pratima Pandey and Rhiti Tiwari, categorically states that Ekam Bawa 'holds no such legal status or relationship' with the family. It alleges that Bawa has been making public claims — through statements, videos, and social media posts — asserting that he is Rhiti's step-father and Pratima Pandey's legally wedded husband.
The notice contends that these claims were made with an alleged intention to harm the reputation of Rhiti, her mother, and their family. It further states that 'serious legal action, civil and criminal,' has been initiated against Bawa in connection with these allegations.
Media and Platforms Asked to Remove Content
The legal notice also calls upon media houses, publishers, platforms, and channels to immediately remove any content carrying or repeating the alleged claims and to publish the public notice in its place. It urges organisations to seek documentary proof and independently verify facts concerning the family through the issuing office before broadcasting or publishing any statements made by Bawa.
The notice warns that republication of the alleged false and defamatory content could make the publisher liable to appropriate legal action.
Rhiti's Team Responds via Instagram
On 28 September, Rhiti's official team also shared a statement on her Instagram Stories addressing what they described as Ekam Bawa's 'torture claims.' Calling the allegations 'false,' the team urged the media to verify facts before reporting.
The statement read: 'We are disappointed to see false claims made by Ekam Bawa against Rhiti Tiwari and her family being carried across various media platforms. Rhiti is currently inside the Bigg Boss 20 house and can't respond to these allegations herself.'
It concluded: 'We request the media to please verify facts before amplifying such defamatory claims and give the family a fair chance to be heard. Necessary legal action has been initiated against Ekam Bawa in relation to these allegations.'
Background and Context
Rhiti Tiwari is currently a contestant on the reality show Bigg Boss 20, which limits her ability to respond to public controversies in real time. Her father, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, is a prominent political figure and the family's public profile has amplified the reach of Bawa's claims. This is the first formal legal action taken by the family in connection with the matter. The dispute underscores growing concerns around unverified allegations being amplified on social media platforms and picked up by news outlets without adequate fact-checking.
With civil and criminal proceedings reportedly initiated, the legal dispute is expected to unfold in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
But issuing it through Instagram Stories and a public notice simultaneously blurs the line between legal process and reputation management. The more telling question is why unverified claims from an individual the family categorically disowns attracted enough media traction to warrant both a formal legal notice and a social media response — pointing to a verification gap in entertainment journalism that the notice itself calls out.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ekam Bawa and what claims has he made about Rhiti Tiwari?
Ekam Bawa, also identified as Parminder Kumar Bawa and Ekam Bains, has allegedly claimed publicly to be the step-father of Bigg Boss 20 contestant Rhiti Tiwari and the legally wedded husband of her mother Pratima Pandey. These claims have been made through statements, videos, and social media posts, according to the legal notice.
What does the legal notice issued by Pratima Pandey say?
The public notice, dated 28 September, categorically denies that Ekam Bawa holds any legal status or family relationship with Rhiti Tiwari or Pratima Pandey. It calls his claims 'false and defamatory' and states that civil and criminal legal action has been initiated against him.
Why can't Rhiti Tiwari respond to the controversy herself?
Rhiti Tiwari is currently a contestant inside the Bigg Boss 20 house, which isolates participants from the outside world, including social media and news. Her team and mother have been responding on her behalf.
What are media platforms being asked to do in response to this notice?
The legal notice calls on media houses, publishers, platforms, and channels to immediately remove any content carrying Ekam Bawa's claims and to publish the public notice in its place. It also warns that republication of the allegedly defamatory content could make the publisher legally liable.
Who is Rhiti Tiwari?
Rhiti Tiwari is the daughter of BJP MP Manoj Tiwari and a contestant on the reality show Bigg Boss 20. Her high-profile family background has drawn significant media attention to the controversy surrounding Ekam Bawa's claims.
