Sameer Wankhede has taken legal action in the Delhi High Court against the Netflix series, ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’, directed by Aryan Khan, and Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd., the production house owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and his wife, Gauri Khan.
Who is Sameer Wankhede?
Sameer Wankhede is a former Mumbai zonal director at the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer. He has handled several high-profile drug-related investigations during his career, which brought him into the spotlight. On the personal front, he is married to actress Kranti Redkar.
What is the past link between Sameer Wankhede and Aryan Khan?
Aryan Khan was caught up in an alleged high-profile drug case in 2021. As reported by NDTV, Aryan and six others were arrested by the NCB on October 3, 2021. Sameer Wankhede, who was then heading the Mumbai NCB, led the investigation and was widely in the news.Aryan spent many days in jail before he was granted bail. He was later cleared of all charges. In fact, the NCB itself, this time a team led by SK Singh, acknowledged the “lack of evidence” and criticised aspects of Wankhede’s investigation.
Why did Sameer Wankhede take legal action?
As reported by ANI, Wankhede’s lawsuit claims that ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’ portrays him in a “false, malicious, and defamatory” manner. He alleges that the series “disseminates a misleading and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, thereby eroding public confidence in law enforcement institutions.”He also argues that the series was “deliberately conceptualised and executed with the intent to malign Sameer Wankhede’s reputation in a colourable and prejudicial manner, particularly when proceedings involving him and Aryan Khan remain pending before the Bombay High Court and the NDPS Special Court, Mumbai.”
Sameer Wankhede points to obscene gesture scene controversy
The suit refers to a particular sequence in the show where a character makes an obscene gesture after reciting ‘Satyamev Jayate’. Wankhede contends that this act “constitutes a grave and sensitive violation of the provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which attracts penal consequences under the law.”He also claims that the content goes against several provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), arguing that it seeks “to outrage national sentiment through the use of obscene and offensive material.”
What is Sameer Wankhede seeking?
The report further reveals that, the lawsuit requests a permanent and mandatory injunction, a declaration of the series’ defamatory nature, and damages. Wankhede has asked that damages of Rs 2 crore be awarded and donated to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital to support cancer patients.He also wants the court to restrain the streaming and distribution of ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’. According to his plea, the portrayal not only harms his personal reputation but also “undermines faith in institutions responsible for enforcing drug laws.” The Delhi High Court is expected to hear the matter soon.
About ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’
‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’ is Aryan Khan’s directorial debut. The series centres on a high-stakes drama where an ambitious outsider and his friends navigate the chaotic, larger-than-life, and unpredictable world of Bollywood. It features actors like Bobby Deol, Lakshya, and Raghav Juyal in prominent roles. The show also includes special cameos from Bollywood stars such as Ranbir Kapoor, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ranveer Singh, and others, adding star power and glamour to the storyline.Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on legal proceedings as reported by third-party sources. The details reflect allegations made by the parties involved and are not established facts. This publication does not assert that the allegations are true and is intended for informational purposes only.
