Sameer Wankhede, the former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer known for the highly publicized arrest of Aryan Khan, has initiated a defamation lawsuit against the creators of the web series “B***ds of Bollywood.” Directed by Aryan Khan and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, owned by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan, the series has become the focal point of this legal battle.
Wankhede’s legal action accuses both Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix, which streams the series, of defaming his character. The Delhi High Court is slated to hear the case, with Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav presiding. The lawsuit seeks Rs 2 crore in damages, which Wankhede has stated should be donated to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.
The former NCB officer argues that the series presents a damaging portrayal of him and by extension, the anti-drug enforcement agencies. Wankhede claims that this portrayal could undermine public confidence in law enforcement efforts. Additionally, the petition highlights a specific scene where a character makes an objectionable gesture following the recitation of the national slogan “Satyamev Jayate,” suggesting it violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
Previously, Aryan Khan was arrested in a 2021 drugs raid led by Wankhede on a cruise ship near Mumbai. The raid, which gained national attention, resulted in several arrests and the seizure of drugs and cash. Aryan Khan and others faced charges related to drug consumption and conspiracy.
This lawsuit reflects the continuing fallout from the original case involving Aryan Khan, juxtaposing Wankhede’s claims of defamation against a popular series. The legal proceedings could serve as a wider commentary on the representation of law enforcement in media, setting a potential precedent for similar cases in the future.