The Delhi High Court has rejected a plea filed by former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede against the upcoming Netflix show The Ba*ds of Bollywood, which he claims defames him. Wankhede's suit targeted Netflix, Red Chillies Entertainment (owned by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan), and other associated parties, alleging that the show damages his reputation with its portrayal related to the Aryan Khan drugs case.
Wankhede, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and former NCB Mumbai zonal director, sought a permanent injunction, a declaration, and damages of ₹2 crore, which he intended to donate to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital. He argued that the series presents anti-drug enforcement agencies in a misleading and one-sided manner, potentially eroding public confidence in these institutions. He specifically pointed to the first episode, where a character seemingly inspired by him searches for drug users at a Bollywood party. Wankhede claimed the show was deliberately designed to tarnish his image in a biased manner. He also raised concerns about a character, allegedly based on him, making indecent gestures while chanting "Satyameva Jayate," a part of the national emblem, which he argued violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. He emphasized that cases involving him and Aryan Khan are still pending in the Bombay High Court and NDPS Special Court in Mumbai.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav questioned the maintainability of the plea in Delhi, asking whether the cause of action arose in the city. Wankhede's lawyer, Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, argued that the series is accessible to viewers in Delhi, thus causing defamation within the city. Despite these arguments, the court ruled that the plaint was not maintainable in Delhi. However, the court allowed Wankhede's counsel to amend and refile the petition.
Following the court's decision, Wankhede addressed the media at a drug awareness event in Mumbai, organized by a Samajwadi Party leader. He focused on the rising drug consumption in Mumbai, particularly in the northern and eastern regions, stressing the importance of educating the public about different drugs and relevant legal provisions. When asked about the Netflix series and the defamation case, Wankhede refrained from detailed comments. Instead, he reiterated, "Satyameva Jayate" (truth alone triumphs). This phrase is also used in the series by a character portrayed to be like him.
The Delhi High Court has not completely shut the door on Wankhede's claims but has directed him to rethink where the suit should be filed or to correct the pleadings. The series will continue streaming on Netflix.
