Sameer Wankhede Faces Setback As Delhi HC Questions Maintainability Of His Defamation Suit Against Netflix Series ‘The Ba*ds of Bollywood!’

In a major setback for Indian Revenue Service officer Sameer Wankhede, the Delhi High Court on Friday raised serious doubts about the maintainability of the defamation suit he filed against the Netflix series The Ba**ds of Bollywood*. 

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav asked Wankhede how his case could be heard in Delhi, questioning whether any part of the cause of action had arisen in the National Capital Territory. Represented by senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, Wankhede argued that the series was streamed across cities nationwide, including Delhi. the court, however, directed him to amend his plea and clearly explain how the cause of action occurred in Delhi. 

In his original petition, Wankhede asked the Delhi High Court to issue directions against the producers of the web series. He has demanded a judicial “declaration” that the series is defamatory, along with damages of ₹2 crore, which he says he would donate to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital. 

For context, Wankhede is known for leading the 2021 NCB cruise ship operation that resulted in Aryan Khan’s arrest. In his suit, Wankhede contends that the series defames him and discredits anti-drug enforcement agencies. 

One disputed scene in The Ba**ds of Bollywood* shows an officer entering a party and observing someone smoking a joint. When he realizes the person is “not from Bollywood,” he becomes irritated. Later, he arrests another person merely standing and drinking—on the basis that he is “from Bollywood.” The sequence went viral after the show’s release earlier this month. 

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