On Friday, the Delhi High Court questioned whether a defamation suit filed by Indian Revenue Service officer Sameer Wankhede against Netflix and Shahrukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment can be heard in Delhi. The suit alleges that the web series The Ba**ds of Bollywood* damages Wankhede’s reputation.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav sought clarity on the jurisdiction of the case, asking how it could proceed in Delhi when the production is based elsewhere. Wankhede’s counsel argued that since the series is available for viewing across India, including Delhi, the matter falls within the court’s jurisdiction. The court allowed Wankhede time to amend his petition accordingly.
The petition seeks a permanent injunction against the series, a formal declaration of defamation, and damages of ₹2 crore, which Wankhede intends to donate to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital. Wankhede claims the show contains inaccurate depictions that malign his image and undermine trust in law enforcement agencies.
This legal dispute follows Wankhede’s earlier involvement in high-profile cases and comes at a time when Aryan Khan and the series’ creators are also engaged in related proceedings before the Bombay High Court and the NDPS Special Court.
