Actress Anjali Raghav has announced her departure from the Bhojpuri film industry following an incident where she alleges her co-star, Pawan Singh, touched her inappropriately during a public event in Lucknow. The incident occurred while the two were promoting their new song "Saiya Seva Kare". A video circulating online shows Singh touching Raghav's waist on stage, which visibly made her uncomfortable.

Raghav addressed the controversy in an Instagram video, explaining that she had been disturbed since the video surfaced. She said she received numerous messages questioning why she didn't react or take action at the event, with some people even creating memes suggesting she was enjoying the moment. Raghav firmly denied these claims, stating that no one would feel happy or comfortable being touched in public without consent.

She clarified that when Singh initially pointed to her waist, she thought it might be the tag of her new saree or blouse. She laughed it off, intending to address it later, but Singh continued to insist something was there. After checking with her team, she confirmed nothing was there, causing her to feel upset and angry. Raghav stated she considered confronting Singh backstage, but he left the venue shortly after the performance.

Raghav also revealed that she attempted to contact Singh's team after the incident gained traction online, but received no response. She wanted to respond to the online criticism but was advised against it, due to Singh's strong PR team.

Addressing why she didn't react immediately, Raghav explained that the event was in Lucknow, Singh's hometown, and the crowd was primarily his fanbase, calling him "God" and falling at his feet. She felt unsure if she would receive support if she spoke out.

Raghav emphasized that she does not support touching anyone without their permission and finds such behavior unacceptable. She stated that if the incident had occurred in Haryana, her home state, the public would have reacted strongly.

Expressing her disappointment and hurt, Raghav announced her decision to leave the Bhojpuri industry. While she enjoys exploring new opportunities as an artist, she is content with her work and family in Haryana. She added that she had agreed to the Lucknow event after confirming with Pawan Singh that it wouldn't involve inappropriate costumes, scenes, or double-meaning lyrics and that she had not felt uncomfortable during the song's shoot.

Following the controversy, Pawan Singh issued an apology to Anjali Raghav via his Instagram Stories. He stated that he had no "wrong intention" towards her and apologized if his behavior had caused her any hurt. Singh explained that he couldn't watch Raghav's live, because of a busy schedule and felt bad after learning about the matter.

The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many users criticizing Singh's behavior and supporting Raghav's decision. Some users recalled past allegations against Singh, including those made by actress Akshara Singh.

Adding to the turmoil, reports have surfaced regarding Pawan Singh's personal life, with his second wife, Jyoti Singh, claiming he has been avoiding her for months. She has expressed her distress and threatened self-harm, stating that she has been enduring difficulties for seven years and has been persistently trying to contact Pawan regarding personal and political matters. She also alleged that he did not meet her when she went to see him during Chhath Puja in Lucknow. Reportedly, Pawan Singh had filed for divorce from Jyoti back in 2022, but the divorce has not been finalized yet.