Tue Dec 02 15:27:25 UTC 2025: Summary:

IRS officer Sameer Wankhede has filed a plea in the Delhi High Court seeking an interim restraining order against the Netflix series “The Ba***ds of Bollywood,” alleging defamation. Wankhede claims the series is intended to settle personal scores related to the 2021 arrest of Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan, in a drugs case. Netflix and Red Chillies Entertainment oppose the plea, arguing the series is satire and that the Delhi court lacks territorial jurisdiction. The court has reserved its order, framing two key questions: whether the suit is maintainable in Delhi and whether the series crosses the line from protected artistic expression into actionable harm to Wankhede’s reputation.

News Article:

Delhi High Court Reserves Order on Sameer Wankhede’s Plea Against Netflix Series ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’

Delhi, December 2, 2025 – The Delhi High Court has reserved its order on a plea by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede seeking an interim restraining order against the Netflix series “The Ba***ds of Bollywood.” Wankhede alleges the series is defamatory and seeks its removal, claiming it aims to settle personal scores stemming from the 2021 arrest of Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan.

Justice Purushaindra Kaurav, after hearing arguments from all parties, framed two key questions to be decided: whether the suit is maintainable in Delhi and whether the depiction in the series crosses the line from protected artistic expression into actionable harm to Wankhede’s reputation.

Wankhede’s counsel argued the suit is maintainable in Delhi, citing the residency of relatives who viewed the show, pending departmental proceedings, and the location of media outlets that published related articles.

Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix opposed the plea, arguing lack of territorial jurisdiction and contending the suit should have been filed in Mumbai. Netflix maintains the show is satire and exposes Bollywood culture, arguing Wankhede should not be oversensitive to a brief satirical scene. Red Chillies further argued that the series is a legitimate form of artistic expression and social commentary.

The court’s decision on Wankhede’s plea is pending.

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