The Delhi High Court on Friday raised questions over the maintainability of former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede’s defamation petition against actor Shah Rukh Khan’s production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, and streaming giant Netflix.
The petition challenges the portrayal of Wankhede in the web series “The Ba**ds of Bollywood”*, alleging that it is defamatory, malicious, and intended to tarnish his reputation.
Court Questions Jurisdiction
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav asked Wankhede to clarify how his petition was maintainable in Delhi and whether the cause of action actually arose in the national capital.
“It is seen by viewers in Delhi. Insofar as the web series is published for viewing in Delhi, I am defamed,” argued senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, appearing for Wankhede.
The court then directed Wankhede to amend his petition to establish a clear cause of action within Delhi jurisdiction.
Details Of The Plea
Wankhede’s plea seeks:
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Permanent and mandatory injunction against the series
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Declaration and damages worth Rs 2 crore (to be donated to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital)
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Removal of allegedly defamatory scenes
The petition argues that the web series was deliberately conceptualised and executed to malign Wankhede’s reputation in a prejudicial manner, particularly since his case involving Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan is still pending before the Bombay High Court and NDPS Special Court in Mumbai.
Allegations Of National Honour Violation
The plea also claims that one of the characters in the series makes an obscene gesture — showing the middle finger — after reciting the slogan “Satyamev Jayate”, which is part of the National Emblem of India.
This, according to Wankhede, amounts to a violation of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, attracting penal consequences.
Violation Of IT Act And BNS
The former NCB officer further alleged that the series violates provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) by spreading obscene, offensive material that could outrage national sentiment.
Background
Wankhede was the zonal director of NCB’s Mumbai unit when Aryan Khan was arrested in the 2021 Mumbai cruise drug case. The case, which was widely covered in media, was later described by Wankhede as a target of political vendetta. Aryan Khan was eventually cleared of all charges.
The Netflix series, directed by Aryan Khan, has been described by critics as a revenge drama loosely inspired by the 2021 events.
