Delhi High Court Questions Maintainability of Sameer Wankhede’s Defamation Plea Against Red Chillies, Netflix

New Delhi, September 26 (HS): The Delhi High Court on Friday raised questions over the maintainability of a defamation petition filed by former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede against Red Chillies Entertainment, owned by Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan, along with Netflix.

Wankhede alleged that the web series “The Bad Boys of Bollywood” tarnished his reputation and that of the investigating agency.

Justice Pushpendra Kaurav’s bench asked the petitioner whether the presence of viewers in Delhi was sufficient for the High Court to assume jurisdiction. The court also directed Wankhede to amend his petition.

In his plea, Wankhede sought damages of ₹2 crore, claiming the series portrayed his image in a distorted manner. He argued that the show indirectly undermined not only his credibility but also the integrity of the NCB.

The petition further stated that since the Aryan Khan case is sub judice before the Bombay High Court and a trial court, producing such a series amounts to interference with judicial proceedings.

The plea said Wankhede intended any damages awarded to be donated to Tata Memorial Hospital. It also alleged that the content of the web series violated several provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, asserting that it carried obscene and offensive material harming national sentiments.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar