Sameer Wankhede Sues Netflix, Red Chillies Over Defamatory Series ‘Bads of Bollywood’

New Delhi: Sameer Wankhede, IRS Officer, has filed a defamation suit before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court seeking reliefs in the nature of permanent and mandatory injunction, declaration, and damages against Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., owned by Actor Shahrukh Khan and Gauri Khan, the OTT platform Netflix, and others. He has alleged being aggrieved by a false, malicious, and defamatory video produced by Red Chillies and broadcast by Netflix as part of their television series titled ‘Bads of Bollywood’. The series allegedly disseminates a misleading and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, thereby eroding public confidence in law enforcement institutions.

According to the plaint, the series has been deliberately conceptualised and executed with the intent to malign Sameer Wankhede’s reputation in a colourable and prejudicial manner—particularly when the matter involving Wankhede and Aryan Khan is still pending and sub judice before the Hon’ble Bombay High Court and the NDPS Special Court, Mumbai.

The suit further points out that the series, inter alia, depicts a character making an obscene gesture—specifically, showing the middle finger after reciting the slogan “Satyamev Jayate,” which forms part of the National Emblem. This, it is argued, constitutes a grave and sensitive violation of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, thereby attracting penal consequences.

It is also alleged that the content of the series contravenes several provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as it seeks to outrage national sentiment through the use of obscene and offensive material.

The plaint claims damages of ₹2 crore, which Wankhede has stated will be donated to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for the treatment of cancer patients.

Disclaimer: This content is produced and published by LawStreet Journal Media for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The views expressed are independent of any legal practice of the individuals involved.