Delhi High Court Allows Sameer Wankhede to Take Defamation Case Against The Ba*ds of Bollywood to Mumbai Court
Former Indian Revenue Service officer Sameer Wankhede has stepped up his legal battle against the controversial Netflix web series The Ba*ds of Bollywood by taking his defamation lawsuit to the appropriate court in Mumbai. The legal development follows a recent decision by the Delhi High Court, which on technical grounds ruled that it lacked territorial jurisdiction to hear his complaint, and granted him permission to approach a civil court in Mumbai instead.
Wankhede’s case revolves around his contention that The Ba*ds of Bollywood - directed by Aryan Khan and produced by Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment for Netflix - contains content that he claims is defamatory and harmful to his reputation. He alleges that the series includes a character that closely resembles him and portrays him in a negative light, particularly in connection with his role in high-profile law enforcement actions, including the 2021 drug case involving Aryan Khan.
Initially, Wankhede filed his suit in the Delhi High Court, seeking relief that would include a permanent injunction against the streaming and promotion of the series, alongside damages. However, on January 29, the Delhi High Court held that the capital lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter because Wankhede and the main respondents - including Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix - are based in Mumbai, and the alleged defamatory conduct originated there. The court advised him to pursue the case in a Mumbai court instead.
In light of that ruling, Justice Vikas Mahajan permitted Wankhede to proceed with his lawsuit before the City Civil & Sessions Court in Dindoshi, Malad, and directed all parties to appear there on February 12 when the plaint is expected to be formally presented. The decision clears a procedural hurdle and allows the defamation matter to move forward in a forum deemed more appropriate by the judiciary.
Wankhede’s legal team has maintained that the web series was designed to settle personal scores against him and has caused significant reputational harm, including alleged ridicule and public humiliation. The officer has sought monetary damages as part of his claim, asserting that the portrayal in the series amounts to false and malicious representation rather than mere satire or creative expression.
Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix have opposed the suit, defending the series as satirical entertainment that does not defame Wankhede and arguing that public officials should be prepared for scrutiny in creative works. As the case moves to Mumbai court, it will be watched closely for how it balances allegations of personal defamation with artistic freedom in the context of digital content.
Wankhede’s case revolves around his contention that The Ba*ds of Bollywood - directed by Aryan Khan and produced by Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment for Netflix - contains content that he claims is defamatory and harmful to his reputation. He alleges that the series includes a character that closely resembles him and portrays him in a negative light, particularly in connection with his role in high-profile law enforcement actions, including the 2021 drug case involving Aryan Khan.
Initially, Wankhede filed his suit in the Delhi High Court, seeking relief that would include a permanent injunction against the streaming and promotion of the series, alongside damages. However, on January 29, the Delhi High Court held that the capital lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter because Wankhede and the main respondents - including Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix - are based in Mumbai, and the alleged defamatory conduct originated there. The court advised him to pursue the case in a Mumbai court instead.
In light of that ruling, Justice Vikas Mahajan permitted Wankhede to proceed with his lawsuit before the City Civil & Sessions Court in Dindoshi, Malad, and directed all parties to appear there on February 12 when the plaint is expected to be formally presented. The decision clears a procedural hurdle and allows the defamation matter to move forward in a forum deemed more appropriate by the judiciary.
Wankhede’s legal team has maintained that the web series was designed to settle personal scores against him and has caused significant reputational harm, including alleged ridicule and public humiliation. The officer has sought monetary damages as part of his claim, asserting that the portrayal in the series amounts to false and malicious representation rather than mere satire or creative expression.
Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix have opposed the suit, defending the series as satirical entertainment that does not defame Wankhede and arguing that public officials should be prepared for scrutiny in creative works. As the case moves to Mumbai court, it will be watched closely for how it balances allegations of personal defamation with artistic freedom in the context of digital content.
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