IRS Officer Sameer Wankhede Sues Netflix, Aryan Khan, and Red Chillies for ₹2 Crore Over Defamatory Portrayal in ‘The Bads of Bollywood’
Sameer Wankhede Files Defamation Case Against Aryan Khan And SRK Over ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’: Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede has filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against Netflix, Aryan Khan, and the producers of the recently released OTT series The Bads of Bollywood, alleging that the show contains false, malicious, and defamatory content that damages his reputation and undermines public trust in law enforcement.
Wankhede is seeking ₹2 crore in damages from Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. — owned by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan — along with Netflix and other associated parties. Aryan Khan, son of Shah Rukh Khan, directed the series.
The series features a fictional scene closely resembling the controversial 2021 cruise drug raid led by Wankhede, during which Aryan Khan was arrested under the NDPS Act. While Aryan was later cleared of all charges due to lack of evidence, Wankhede claims the show falsely portrays him in a negative light as a biased and overzealous officer.
He further alleges that the series contains a scene where a character resembling him says “Satyameva Jayate” — India’s national motto — before making an obscene gesture. Wankhede argues this act insults the national emblem and violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
In his legal petition, Wankhede cites violations of the Information Technology Act and various sections of the Indian Penal Code, accusing the producers of attempting to damage the credibility of national institutions, including drug enforcement agencies.
Wankhede has stated that if awarded, the ₹2 crore compensation will be donated to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for the treatment of cancer patients.
The 2021 cruise raid and the subsequent legal battle between Wankhede and Aryan Khan had already drawn massive public and media attention. With the matter still pending before the Bombay High Court and a special NDPS court, this fresh lawsuit adds another layer of legal complexity to the ongoing saga.
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