The Delhi High Court rejects IRS officer Sameer Wankhede’s defamation suit against the Netflix show ‘Ba***ds of Bollywood,’ questioning the cause of action and maintainability of the plaint.
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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a defamation suit filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede against the Netflix series “Ba***ds of Bollywood”, directed by Aryan Khan. The matter was heard by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav.
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During proceedings, the Court directly questioned the plaintiff’s legal standing, asking:
“What is the cause of action?”
Wankhede’s counsel, Advocate Sandeep Sethi, responded:
“The web series is available across cities, including Delhi, and the memes target my client specifically as a resident of Delhi.”
The bench rejected the plaint, stating:
“Your plaint is not maintainable. Even if your case argued that defamation occurred in multiple places, with maximum damage in Delhi, we would have considered it.”
Sethi requested permission to amend the plaint, to which the Court responded:
“Considering Section 9 of the CPC and the fact that the plaintiff has not properly made averments as to how a civil suit lies in Delhi, the Registry will list the matter once the amended application is filed.”
The Court emphasized that Section 9 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) requires a proper demonstration of jurisdiction and cause of action. The bench noted that paras 37-38 of the plaint failed to establish these crucial points, making it non-maintainable. No fresh hearing date was set; the Registry will list the matter once the amended application is filed.
The suit names multiple defendants, including Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, X Corp (formerly Twitter), Google LLC, Meta Platforms, RPG Lifestyle Media Pvt. Ltd., and a John Doe, with Senior Advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi representing Netflix and Red Chillies.
Allegations by Wankhede
Wankhede alleges that the Netflix series:
- Deliberately misrepresents him, portraying his character in a false, malicious, and defamatory manner.
- Depicts a distorted image of anti-drug enforcement agencies, undermining public confidence in law enforcement.
- Includes a scene where a character raises the middle finger after saying “Satyamev Jayate”, violating the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
- Violates provisions under the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) by spreading obscene and offensive content intended to outrage national sentiment.
According to his suit:
“The Defendant No. 1 has purposefully and intentionally crafted a character in defamatory content with the sole intent to connect with the plaintiff, making the character’s actions, speech, and traits strikingly similar to those of the plaintiff. Clearly therefore, this was a conscious and intentional attempt to portray the plaintiff in a negative light, camouflaging their malicious intentions by creating a character that mimics the plaintiff’s persona.”
He further claimed he has received intimidatory messages on social media and argued that the series’ release was timed while the Aryan Khan case remains sub-judice before the Bombay High Court and Special NDPS Court.
Legal Remedies Sought:
Wankhede has requested:
- A permanent and mandatory injunction against Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, and others.
- Declaration and damages for the alleged defamation.
- Takedown of any defamatory content on social media and other platforms.
The Court allowed Wankhede to amend his plaint to better establish jurisdiction and cause of action in Delhi. Once filed, the matter will be listed for hearing by the Registry.
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Background
The lawsuit is rooted in events from Aryan Khan’s arrest in 2021 during an NCB drug raid on a Mumbai cruise ship. Aryan, along with Arbaaz Merchant, Munmun Dhamecha, and others, was taken into custody on charges of possession, consumption, and sale/purchase of banned drugs. Aryan spent 25 days in jail before being granted bail, and Wankhede, then the Zonal Director of the NCB, was later removed from the case amid allegations of blackmail.
The Netflix series “Ba***ds of Bollywood” allegedly includes scenes resembling Wankhede’s actions during the arrest, which prompted him to file the suit seeking injunctions, takedowns, and damages of Rs 2 crore, which he has stated will be donated to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.
Bench: Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav
Appearance:
For Wankhede: Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi
For the production house Red Chillies: Senior Advocate Shyel Trehan and Advocate Rohan Poddar
Case Title:
SAMEER DNYANDEV WANKHEDE V/s RED CHILLIES ENTERTAINMENTS PVT. LTD. AND ORS CS(OS)-698/2025
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