The Delhi High Court on Friday, September 26, 2025, questioned the maintainability of a defamation suit filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede against Aryan Khan and Netflix concerning the upcoming Netflix series, "The Ba***ds of Bollywood". The court noted that the suit, which alleges defamation and seeks damages, might not be maintainable in its current form and asked Wankhede's lawyer to address the deficiencies.

Wankhede, the former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer, filed the suit against Red Chillies Entertainment Private Limited, Netflix, and others, claiming that the series contains "false, malicious and defamatory" content that aims to malign his reputation. He specifically objects to the series' portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, arguing that it erodes public confidence in law enforcement institutions. Wankhede also claims the series was deliberately designed to tarnish his image, especially while cases involving him and Aryan Khan are still pending in the Bombay High Court and the NDPS Special Court in Mumbai.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav raised concerns about whether the cause of action arose in Delhi, asking how the plea was maintainable there. Wankhede's lawyer responded that the series has been viewed by audiences in Delhi. The court has given Wankhede time to amend the petition to address the identified deficiencies.

Wankhede is seeking ₹2 crore in damages, which he intends to donate to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for cancer patients. He is also seeking a permanent and mandatory injunction against the series.

The series, directed by Aryan Khan and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, premiered on Netflix on September 18. Wankhede's legal team argues that the series disseminates a misleading and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, thereby eroding public confidence in law enforcement institutions. They also highlight a scene in the series where a character makes an obscene gesture after reciting the slogan "Satyamev Jayate," part of the National Emblem.

Sameer Wankhede was one of the officers who led the October 2021 raid on a cruise ship, where the NCB claimed to have seized drugs and arrested Aryan Khan and 19 others. Aryan Khan was later cleared of all charges in May 2022. Wankhede faced criticism for allegedly mishandling the case and was later transferred from his position as the chief of NCB’s Mumbai zone. Allegations of extortion and irregularities were also made against him.