Former narcotics officer and Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede on Thursday filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against Red Chillies Entertainment, owned by actor Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan, Netflix, and other associated parties.
The lawsuit centers on the Netflix series "Ba*ds of Bollywood", which Wankhede alleges portrays him in a “false, malicious, and defamatory” manner, undermining his personal and professional reputation.
The suit seeks multiple forms of relief, including a permanent and mandatory injunction, a declaration, and damages amounting to Rs 2 crore. Wankhede has stated that he intends to donate the entire amount of any awarded damages to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital to support cancer patient treatment.
According to the petition, the series, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and streamed on Netflix, presents a distorted and negative depiction of anti-drug enforcement agencies, which Wankhede claims could erode public trust in law enforcement institutions.
Wankhede, who previously led high-profile narcotics investigations, including one involving Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, alleges that the series was deliberately conceptualised and produced to malign his reputation. He emphasised that the legal case concerning him and Aryan Khan remains sub judice, pending before the Bombay High Court and the NDPS Special Court in Mumbai. Wankhede argues that the series’ portrayal is both prejudicial and irresponsible, given the ongoing judicial proceedings.
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The petition specifically highlights a controversial scene in the series where a character is shown making an obscene gesture—raising the middle finger—immediately after uttering the national slogan “Satyamev Jayate,” which forms part of India’s National Emblem. Wankhede contends that this act violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and is punishable under Indian law.
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Additionally, Wankhede alleges that the series’ content contravenes several provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), citing the inclusion of obscene and offensive material intended to provoke and outrage national sentiment. The lawsuit underscores Wankhede’s demand for accountability, arguing that the series not only defames him personally but also undermines the integrity of law enforcement and national symbols.
The case marks a significant legal challenge for Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix, as Wankhede seeks to address the alleged defamation and its broader implications through judicial intervention.
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