Delhi High Court Issues Notice in Wankhede Defamation Case

The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to Netflix, Red Chillies Entertainment, and others regarding a defamation suit filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede. The suit concerns the series "Ba***ds of Bollywood," directed by Aryan Khan. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav has summoned the defendants, including Gauri Khan's Red Chillies, X Corp, Google, and Meta Platforms, to respond within seven days. The next hearing is scheduled for October 30, 2025.

Wankhede claims that the series portrays him and anti-drug enforcement agencies in a misleading manner, damaging his reputation. He is seeking ₹2 crore in damages, which he intends to donate to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital. Wankhede's lawyer, Sandeep Sethi, highlighted that the series has led to online trolling against Wankhede and his family, stating, "The nature of the accusation being made is shocking."

The court did not issue any interim orders to remove the alleged defamatory content at this time. Wankhede's plea argues that the series undermines public confidence in law enforcement and includes offensive material that violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. Wankhede expressed his commitment to uphold the honour of law enforcement and stated, "I expect with a strong judiciary, truth will prevail."

The court acknowledged the validity of Wankhede's concerns but emphasized the need to follow legal processes. The case has drawn attention due to its implications for the portrayal of law enforcement in media and the responsibilities of content creators.