Red Chillies and Netflix Summoned by Delhi HC
Red Chillies and Netflix Summoned by Delhi HC
The Delhi High Court has issued summons to Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, and several other parties in connection with a defamation lawsuit filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede. The case pertains to the controversial web series The Ba**ds of Bollywood*, which Wankhede alleges has damaged his professional reputation.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, presiding over the matter, has directed all respondents — including tech giants X (formerly Twitter), Google, and Meta Platforms — to file their responses within seven days. The next hearing is slated for October 30, 2025. While no interim relief was granted on Wankhede’s request to remove the alleged defamatory content from online platforms, the court acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue. – Red Chillies and Netflix Summoned by Delhi HC
“The allegations could have far-reaching consequences,” the judge observed during the proceedings. Representing Wankhede, senior advocate Sandeep Sethi contended that the officer has been subjected to online trolling and public defamation following the release of the series. “The nature of the accusations made against my client is deeply disturbing,” he stated.
Wankhede, known for leading the Narcotics Control Bureau’s 2021 cruise drug case involving Aryan Khan, claims the series — directed by Aryan Khan and produced by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment — deliberately tarnishes his image and undermines the credibility of anti-drug enforcement agencies. The IRS officer is seeking ₹2 crore in damages, which he has pledged to donate to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.
Alleged Defamation and Legal Violations
In his plea, Wankhede argues that the series presents a “distorted and derogatory portrayal of law enforcement institutions,” eroding public trust in agencies tasked with combating narcotics. He further alleges that the production was “deliberately conceived and executed to malign” him in a prejudiced and misleading manner. – Red Chillies and Netflix Summoned by Delhi HC
The petition also cites a particular scene in which a character allegedly performs an obscene gesture — raising the middle finger after reciting “Satyamev Jayate,” a phrase from India’s National Emblem. Wankhede contends that this act violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, as well as provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, on the grounds that it offends national sentiment and public morality.
The case continues to draw widespread attention due to its high-profile connections and the implications it may hold for artistic freedom, reputation rights, and the responsibilities of digital platforms in handling sensitive content.
Stay tuned to Roj Ka Drama for further updates on this developing legal battle.
Red Chillies and Netflix Summoned by Delhi HC
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