In a significant development, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, sent official notices to Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, and other involved parties. This action stems from a defamation lawsuit initiated by Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede against the creators of the web series “Ba***ds of Bollywood.”
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav has issued summons to all defendants, including the owners of Red Chillies, X (formerly Twitter), Google, and Meta Platforms (Facebook and Instagram). They have been instructed to submit their formal responses to the court within seven days. The next hearing for this case is scheduled for October 30, 2025.
However, the Court chose not to issue any immediate interim orders concerning Mr. Wankhede’s request to remove the various alleged defamatory materials from numerous websites and social media platforms.
“This situation could lead to widespread consequences,” the Court observed. This came after senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing Mr. Wankhede, emphasized that his client is being relentlessly “trolled” online in connection with the series.
“The accusations being leveled are truly shocking,” stated Mr. Sethi.
The Judge acknowledged that “there is a valid reason for you to bring this matter before the court, but certain procedures must be adhered to first.”
The IRS officer, known for leading the Narcotics Control Bureau’s 2021 raid that resulted in the arrest of actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan, in a cruise ship drug case, alleges that the series in question falsely defames him and undermines the credibility of anti-drug enforcement agencies. He claims the show, directed by Aryan Khan, produced by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan’s company Red Chillies, and streamed on Netflix, is a deliberate misrepresentation. Wankhede is seeking ₹2 crore in damages, which he has publicly committed to donating to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.
It is noteworthy that Aryan Khan was later cleared of all charges by the NCB in 2022 regarding the cruise ship drug case, with the agency stating unequivocally that “no drugs had been found on Aryan Khan.”
In his legal submission, Mr. Wankhede asserted that “This series propagates a deceptive and detrimental depiction of anti-drug enforcement agencies, consequently diminishing public trust in our law enforcement institutions.”
He further added, “The series was intentionally conceived and produced with the clear aim of damaging Sameer Wankhede’s reputation in a biased and harmful fashion.”
The plea also highlighted a specific contentious scene: “Moreover, the series controversially shows a character making an obscene gesture—specifically, a middle finger—immediately after uttering the slogan ‘Satyamev Jayate,’ a phrase that is part of India’s National Emblem. This action, the plea argues, represents a severe and egregious violation of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and is subject to legal penalties.”
Additionally, the legal document contends that the series’ content contravenes several sections of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). It asserts that the show deliberately aims to offend national sensibilities by featuring obscene and objectionable content.