Sameer Wankhede calls The Ba***ds of Bollywood `vendetta,` alleges defamation

Indian Income Service (IRS) officer and former NCB Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Dnyandev Wankhede has filed a rejoinder earlier than the Delhi Excessive Courtroom, accusing Pink Chillies Leisure Pvt. Ltd., the Shah Rukh Khan owned manufacturing home, of manufacturing and circulating “false, malicious and defamatory” content material by its Netflix net collection `The Ba***ds of Bollywood`.

Wankhede contended that the online collection will not be a piece of fiction however a “private vendetta disguised as satire”, orchestrated to malign his popularity following the 2021 Cordelia Cruise drug case involving Shah Rukh Khan`s son, Aryan Khan.

Within the rejoinder, Wankhede alleged that the character of a authorities officer depicted within the collection was intentionally modelled on him, citing hanging resemblances in look, speech, and the usage of his trademark phrase “Satyamev Jayate.” He stated the scene amounted to a “premeditated, focused marketing campaign” meant to ridicule and destroy his popularity.

“The collection will not be satire however a calculated hit job designed to settle private scores,” the rejoinder acknowledged, including that the content material mocked not solely the officer but additionally the nationwide motto `Satyamev Jayate`.

Wankhede asserted that the content material has prompted him public humiliation, resulting in a “wave of on-line ridicule” in opposition to him and his household. “My spouse and sister are being subjected to offensive and distasteful messages,” he stated, terming the harm to his popularity irreparable.

The rejoinder additional accused the corporate of revenge and industrial greed, asserting that “the defendants can’t cover behind the handy veil of satire or creative expression to justify a malicious act.”

Wankhede argued that his proper to popularity, protected underneath Article 21 of the Structure, has been violated and urged the courtroom to restrain the streaming and promotion of the allegedly defamatory scenes till the defamation go well with is determined.

In its reply affidavit, Pink Chillies Leisure Pvt Ltd had opposed Wankhede`s injunction plea, describing the defamation go well with as “wholly misconceived, untenable in legislation, and devoid of benefit.”

The reply states that `The Ba***ds of Bollywood` is a situational satire that doesn’t identify or depict Wankhede and incorporates no defamatory materials.

On the threshold, the corporate challenged the maintainability of the go well with, contending that the Delhi Excessive Courtroom lacks territorial jurisdiction, since each Wankhede and the principal defendants, together with Netflix, are primarily based in Mumbai. It stated the jurisdictional defect at inception renders the proceedings a nullity, which can’t be cured by later amendments to the plaint.

The manufacturing home additionally questioned Wankhede`s declare of an unblemished service document, referring to the CBI FIR registered in Might 2023 for alleged extortion and corruption.

“The existence of the FIR and the need for interim safety undermine the plaintiff`s declare of an unblemished popularity,” the corporate submitted, additional asserting that Wankhede was already the topic of “public ridicule and adversarial commentary” even earlier than the collection was launched.

Pink Chillies maintained that the collection is a inventive and humorous commentary on the movie business, tackling themes like nepotism, paparazzi tradition, and movie star controversies, utilizing humour and parody protected underneath Article 19(1)(a) of the Structure. It acknowledged that the temporary sequence objected to by Wankhede, lasting only one minute and forty-eight seconds, “merely portrays an overzealous officer” and carries no defamatory reference.

“Satire permits the satirist to criticise within the harshest of phrases. Whether or not the remark is satirical or malicious can solely be decided at trial,” the reply acknowledged.

Arguing that Wankhede, as a public servant, should tolerate public scrutiny, Pink Chillies acknowledged, “Those that fill public positions should not be too thin-skinned. An individual whose conduct has been the topic of official inquiry can’t declare particular safety from honest remark or satire.”

Calling Wankhede`s plea an try and stifle official creative expression, the manufacturing home stated that eradicating the impugned scene would distort the narrative stream of the collection, which has been streaming on Netflix since September 18, 2025.

On Thursday, the Delhi Excessive Courtroom directed all events to file written submissions and listed the matter for additional listening to on November 10 earlier than Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav.

On the earlier date, the courtroom had issued discover to Netflix, Pink Chillies, and others on Wankhede`s plea looking for a everlasting injunction and Rs 2 crore in damages for alleged defamation.

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