Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing Wankhede, argued that the series was “deliberately conceptualised and executed” to malign Wankhede’s reputation.
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Sameer Wankhede vs Aryan Khan: Aryan Khan’s Netflix series, ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’, has landed in hot waters. Delhi High Court has now summoned actor Shah Rukh Khan’s production house Red Chillies Entertainment, streaming giant Netflix, and several other platforms over a defamation case filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede.
The legal storm centers on Wankhede’s alleged portrayal in the series, which he claims has damaged his personal and professional reputation.
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The hearing took place on Wednesday, October 8, with the court issuing summons to the defendants. Wankhede’s lawyer told the court that an application had been filed to amend the suit and stressed that Delhi is the appropriate jurisdiction for the case.
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“In reference to the series, there are posts trolling me, my wife, and my sister. It’s shocking. The defendants are surely not defending those posts,” Wankhede’s counsel said.
While the court acknowledged Wankhede’s grievance, it reminded him that he must follow legal procedures. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav remarked, “We appreciate that there is cause in your favour to approach this court, but there is a process.”
The interim injunction application will now have a hearing on October 30.
Wankhede is seeking Rs. 2 crore in damages, which he has announced will go on donation to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital to support cancer patients. The suit also requests a permanent injunction against Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, and other defendants to prevent further dissemination of what Wankhede claims is “false, malicious, and defamatory” content.
Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing Wankhede, argued that the series “deliberately conceptualised and executed” to malign Wankhede’s reputation, particularly while his legal case with Aryan Khan is still under trial in the Bombay High Court and NDPS Special Court.
The suit highlights a specific scene in which a character makes a middle-finger gesture after reciting “Satyamev Jayate,” which Wankhede claims violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and attracts penal consequences under Indian law.
Delhi High Court has now formally issued notices to the defendants, which include Red Chillies Entertainment Private Limited, Netflix, X Corp (formerly Twitter), Google LLC, Meta Platforms, RPG Lifestyle Media Private Limited, and John Doe.
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