By News Karnataka Editorial Team
Copyright newskarnataka
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday rejected the defamation suit filed by Sameer Wankhede, former Mumbai zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), against Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, and others over Aryan Khan’s directorial debut series, The Ba**ds of Bollywood*.
Wankhede’s claims
Wankhede had alleged that a character in the series portrayed him and anti-drug enforcement agencies in a false and malicious manner, affecting his reputation. Appearing for Wankhede, senior advocate Sandeep Sethi argued that the series was accessible across India, including Delhi, and that memes generated from it had harmed Wankhede’s image “qua people in Delhi.”
He sought ₹2 crore in damages, to be donated to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, emphasizing the nationwide reach of the web series.
Court proceedings
Senior advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi represented Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix, respectively.
The court questioned the cause of action, noting that Wankhede had not established defamation across multiple jurisdictions. The judge observed, “Your plaint is not maintainable. I am rejecting your plaint,” adding that the case could have been considered if Wankhede had pleaded defamation in multiple areas, with Delhi being the jurisdiction of maximum damage.
The rejection of the suit underscores the legal complexities involved in cases of online content and web series, especially when jurisdiction and reach across states are considered. Wankhede’s attempt to seek damages in Delhi alone was deemed insufficient to establish the case.
