Meet 'Matka King' Kalyanji Bhagat's Granddaughter, Tanuja, Filed A Case Against Makers Of The Series

The recently released series, Matka King, starring Vijay Varma, Kritika Kamra and more is currently winning a lot of hearts on social media. The series, which is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, is said to be inspired from the lives of Ratan Khatri and Kalyanji Bhagat, two real-life figures who established gambling in India.

While Ratan Khatri has been dominating the headlines ever since the series, Matka King premiered, do you know that it was Kalyanji Bhagat who established the 'Worli Matka' system in Mumbai during the 1960s? Well, that's true. Amid that, currently the attention has shifted to his granddaughter, Tanuja Bhagat, who took the makers of Matka King to court before the release of the series. Apart from this, she has also been involved in multiple legal cases involving her own family. If you want to know more about her, continue reading.

Tanuja Bhagat was born in a wealthy family

Even though Kalyanji Bhagat is one of the most known names in the world of gambling, his personal life always stayed away from the media. However, in recent times, Tanuja Bhagat has grabbed attention. For the unversed, Tanuja is Kalyanji's granddaughter, who filed a complaint against the makers of Matka King for not taking their consent. Amid that, it is worth noting that there is no information about Tanuja Bhagat.

Tanuja Bhagat dragged the makers of Matka King to court

Tanuja Bhagat recently came into the spotlight, when she raised an objection against the series, Matka King and its title. For those unaware, the series is created by Nagraj Popatrao Manjul and produced by Roy Kapur Films. It premiered on April 17, 2026. However, a few days before the release, Tanuja filed a legal complaint and demanded to stop the release.

According to reports, Tanuja had issues with the title for the series and she claimed that the series was based on the life of her grandfather, Kalyanji Bhagat; however, no permission was taken. She claimed that the makers had used Kalyanji's story without taking consent. In the hearing, the High court denied her request and gave green light to the release of Matka King. According to a report by Hello Mumbai News, Tanuja had shared:

"This isn’t just a copyright issue, it's about respect. My grandfather wasn’t just a character, he was a visionary. I owe it to him to ensure his legacy isn’t twisted for the sake of entertainment."

Tanuja Bhagat once filed a complaint against her own family

According to a report by The Times Of India, in 2008, Kalyaniji Bhagat's family member, Suresh Bhagat was killed in a crash. The crash also claimed the life of six other people. His death led to an investigation. After a long battle, in August 2013, Suresh's wife, son and an associate were found guilty. It is worth noting that Suresh's niece, Tanuja played an important role in helping the police find the murderers. Later, in October 2013, she again filed a complaint claiming that the accused were misusing their hospital stays and parole only to harm her. According to TOI, she had said:

"Jaya (Suresh's wife) has misled the court by citing fibroid and uterus problems. She has been meeting people at the hospital and planning to kill me or frame me in a false case. If anything happens to me, this set of people should be held responsible."

Tanuja Bhagat accused her parents of stealing money

After Suresh Bhagat's death, his property became an issue in the family. As per a 2014 report by The Times Of India, Tanuja had revealed that her own parents, siblings and relatives were not fine with her getting some amount of Suresh's property. Tanuja explained that her family forcefully entered her office and stole important documents, including a copy of the will. They even took cash from Tanuja and stole her laptop.

According to Tanuja, her family had even assaulted one of her office workers. As per TOI, the name of the office worker was Sajid Khan. Soon after the incident, Tanuja filed a legal complaint and dragged her own family members to the High court. It is worth noting that the original copy was still with Tanuja Bhagat.

Who was Kalyanji Bhagat?

Souce: Mumbai Mirror

Before rising to fame as the mastermind behind starting the matka gambling system in Mumbai, Kalyanji Bhagat was reportedly a farmer. He lived in Kutch, Gujarat; however, he later moved to Mumbai to find work. Initially, he did multiple jobs, including running a grocery shop. Reportedly, one fine day, at his grocery shop, he came up with the idea of a betting system. Soon, it was named 'matka'. In the early 1990s, Kalyanji passed away and his son, Suresh continued his business. However, it is worth noting that even today, Kalyanji is known as one of the founders of matka gambling in India.

What are your thoughts on Kalyanji Bhagat’s granddaughter, Tanuja Bhagat, who took the makers of Matka King to the High court? Let us know.

Next Read: Why Real Matka King, Ratan Khatri Retired From Gambling? True Story Behind Vijay Varma's Series

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