The Delhi High Court has asked former Narcotics Control Bureau officer Sameer Wankhede to explain how his defamation suit, filed in connection with a Netflix series referencing Aryan Khan, can be maintained in the national capital. The matter came up before Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, who directed Wankhede to amend his pleadings and demonstrate how the cause of action arose in Delhi so as to justify the territorial jurisdiction of the court.
Wankhede has instituted the civil suit against Netflix, Red Chillies Entertainment, Google, Meta, X Corp (formerly Twitter), and others, claiming that the web series The Ba**ds of Bollywood* contains content that tarnishes his reputation. According to him, one of the characters in the show has been deliberately portrayed with physical traits, behavior, and dialogues intended to resemble him, presenting a caricature designed to ridicule and diminish his public standing.
Through his lawyers, Wankhede argued that since the series is accessible in Delhi, defamatory imputations made in the program are disseminated to audiences in the capital, thereby giving rise to jurisdiction. He further alleged that the broadcast of the show has not only damaged his personal reputation but also eroded public confidence in law-enforcement bodies. He claimed to have faced a surge in negative online commentary and even threats after the program was released.
The lawsuit seeks damages of Rs 2 crore along with directions to remove the objectionable portions of the series and an injunction against any further publication or circulation of similar content.
The controversy traces back to October 2021, when Wankhede, then serving with the NCB, led a raid on a cruise ship in Mumbai which resulted in the arrest of actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan, under provisions of the NDPS Act. Although Aryan Khan was later granted bail and no drugs were recovered from him, the case drew massive national attention and intense scrutiny of Wankhede’s conduct.
The High Court has not proceeded to consider the merits of the defamation allegations, focusing instead on the preliminary question of whether Delhi is the correct forum for adjudication. The matter is expected to move forward once Wankhede complies with the direction to amend his plaint and establish a clear territorial nexus.