Delhi High Court dismisses Sameer Wankhede’s challenge to Aryan Khan’s documentary title

The Delhi High Court on Friday rejected a defamation petition filed by Sameer Wankhede, a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and former zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The petition was filed against superstar Shah Rukh Khan, his wife Gauri Khan, their production house Red Chillies Entertainment, and streaming platform Netflix. Wankhede claimed that the Netflix show ‘The Ba*ds of Bollywood’**, directed by Aryan Khan, had harmed his reputation.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav questioned the maintainability of Wankhede’s petition in Delhi. The court said that the matter could not be heard in Delhi because Wankhede had not demonstrated that the maximum damage to his reputation occurred in Delhi. The judge noted, "Your plaint is not maintainable here in Delhi. Had your case been that you have been defamed at various places, including Delhi, and the maximum damage has occurred in Delhi, we would have still considered the matter here in Delhi."

Wankhede’s lawyer, senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, argued that the web series is streamed across multiple cities, including Delhi. He claimed that the officer was indeed defamed in Delhi because viewers in the city had access to the series. Despite this, the court rejected the petition and dismissed the case for being not maintainable in Delhi.

Allegations made by Sameer Wankhede

In his petition, Wankhede sought a permanent injunction, a declaration that the series is defamatory, and damages of Rs 2 crore, which he said he would donate to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital. He alleged that the web series portrayed anti-drug enforcement agencies in a false and negative light, thereby reducing public trust in these agencies.

The officer argued that the series had been deliberately made to malign his reputation, especially since a legal case involving Wankhede and Aryan Khan was still pending in the Bombay High Court and the NDPS Special Court, Mumbai. He also pointed to a specific scene in which a character makes an obscene gesture—showing a middle finger—while reciting the slogan “Satyamev Jayate”, which is part of India’s National Emblem. According to Wankhede, this scene violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which could carry legal consequences.

Additionally, the petition claimed that the series breached provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code, citing the offensive content and its potential to mislead viewers about law enforcement officials.

Other parties named in the lawsuit

Apart from Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, and Aryan Khan, the petition also listed other platforms and companies, including X Corp (formerly Twitter), Google LLC, Meta Platforms, RPG Lifestyle Media Private Limited, and ‘John Doe’ as accused parties. The inclusion of these companies reflected Wankhede’s claim that the content of the web series had spread widely online and was accessible across various platforms.

Wankhede’s case highlighted a growing debate over online content and its regulation in India. Many critics argue that streaming platforms can publish controversial or sensitive material that affects the reputation of individuals. At the same time, courts examine the jurisdiction and legal grounds to ensure that petitions are filed in the correct court and that proper legal procedures are followed.

Aryan Khan’s web series, ‘The Ba*ds of Bollywood’**, marks his directorial debut and is currently streaming on Netflix. The show has attracted attention due to its bold content and portrayal of the Bollywood industry. While some viewers praise it as creative storytelling, others, including Wankhede, argue that certain scenes are offensive and misrepresent real-life events.

The Delhi High Court’s rejection of Wankhede’s petition does not address the merits of the allegations but instead focuses on the jurisdictional issue. This means that the court did not examine whether the content was actually defamatory. Instead, it concluded that the petition could not be legally filed in Delhi because the main harm allegedly did not occur there.

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The ruling also underscores the importance of filing petitions in the appropriate legal forum, especially in cases involving online content that can be accessed across multiple regions. Experts note that defamation claims linked to digital media often require careful consideration of where the material was viewed and where the alleged harm occurred.

Despite the dismissal in Delhi, Wankhede could still pursue legal remedies in other jurisdictions where he believes the series caused significant damage to his reputation. His case also highlights the ongoing tension between creative freedom on streaming platforms and protection of individual reputation in India.

With streaming services like Netflix producing increasingly bold and controversial content, disputes such as these are likely to become more common. Courts will continue to examine legal frameworks for content regulation, defamation, and jurisdiction, balancing freedom of expression with respect for individual rights.

For now, Aryan Khan’s series remains available on Netflix, and the focus shifts to whether Wankhede will seek alternative legal avenues. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court’s decision clarifies that not all petitions can be filed in the capital, even when content is streamed online across multiple cities.