Sameer Wankhede Sues Netflix, Red Chillies for ₹2 Crore Over Allegedly Defamatory Series Inspired by Aryan Khan Case

Former NCB Mumbai zonal director and IRS officer Sameer Wankhede has filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., owned by actor Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan, as well as global streaming platform Netflix and others. Wankhede is seeking ₹2 crore in damages over the recently released series The Ba**ds of Bollywood, which marks the directorial debut of Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan.

Wankhede has alleged that the series contains “false, malicious, and defamatory content” deliberately crafted to damage his professional and personal reputation. He contends that the show portrays a negative and misleading image of anti-drug enforcement agencies, indirectly targeting him in connection with the high-profile 2021 drugs case involving Aryan Khan.

In his petition, Wankhede claimed the series has been conceptualised and executed in a manner intended to tarnish his image at a time when court proceedings related to the Aryan Khan case are still pending before the Bombay High Court and the NDPS Special Court in Mumbai. He argued that such content could prejudice ongoing judicial processes and sway public perception unfairly.

Referring to a particular scene in the show where a character makes an obscene gesture after reciting “Satyamev Jayate,” Wankhede claimed it amounts to a violation of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. The act, he argued, disrespects national symbols and sentiments, inviting penal consequences.

Additionally, the suit points to alleged violations of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), asserting that the content is offensive, obscene, and detrimental to national and institutional dignity.

Wankhede has requested the court to order a halt to the streaming and distribution of the series and to declare its content defamatory. Interestingly, the ₹2 crore in damages he is seeking is not for personal gain but intended to be donated to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for the treatment of cancer patients.

The Delhi High Court is expected to hear the matter soon, in what could become a high-profile legal battle blending celebrity, law enforcement, and creative freedom.