The Delhi High Court on Thursday (29 January 2026) declined to entertain a defamation suit filed by former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede against Netflix and the makers of the series Ba**ds of Bollywood*. The court held that it did not have the territorial jurisdiction to hear the case and returned the plaint, granting Wankhede liberty to approach the appropriate court.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav passed the order after hearing detailed arguments from both sides on whether the case could be maintained in Delhi.
Read Also:- Custody Battles Can’t Be Won by Exclusion: Delhi High Court Upholds Father’s Rights
Background of the Case
Sameer Wankhede had moved the Delhi High Court alleging that a character in the Netflix series Ba**ds of Bollywood* was deliberately modeled on him to defame and ridicule his public image. The series is produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and directed by Aryan Khan.
Wankhede claimed that the portrayal damaged his reputation, especially in light of his role in the 2021 cruise ship drug case involving Aryan Khan. He sought ₹2 crore in damages, which he said would be donated to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital. He also sought removal of the allegedly defamatory content and a permanent injunction against further circulation.
The suit named multiple defendants, including Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, X Corp (formerly Twitter), Google, Meta Platforms, RPG Lifestyle Media, and unidentified parties.
Read Also:- Remarried Childless Widow Can Continue Family Pension, Parents Have No Right: Delhi High Court
Arguments by Wankhede
Senior Advocate J. Sai Deepak, appearing for Wankhede, argued that the Delhi High Court had jurisdiction as the impact of the allegedly defamatory content was felt in Delhi. He submitted that:
- Media houses that published content related to Wankhede operate from Delhi
- Departmental proceedings against him were pending in the capital
- The online nature of the content gave it pan-India reach
He contended that each day the content remained available online, Wankhede continued to suffer irreparable harm.
“The portrayal is not innocent satire but a calculated attempt to malign a public servant,” Deepak argued, adding that the show crossed the line from artistic expression to defamation.
The suit also alleged that a scene showing a character making an obscene gesture after saying “Satyamev Jayate” violated the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act and offended public sentiment.
Stand of Netflix and Red Chillies
Senior Advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for Red Chillies Entertainment, strongly opposed the plea on jurisdiction. He argued that:
- Wankhede resides in Mumbai
- Red Chillies’ registered office is also in Mumbai
- The cause of action, if any, arose in Maharashtra
“Merely because content is accessible on the internet does not give jurisdiction to every court in the country,” Kaul submitted.
Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayyar, representing Netflix, argued that the bar for defamation in creative works is high and cannot be decided at an interim stage. He said the series was a satirical take on Bollywood culture and not a personal attack.
“The show uses parody and dark humour to reflect the industry. It does not single out anyone,” Nayyar told the court.
He also pointed out that allegations against Wankhede had been in the public domain since 2022 and had already been widely discussed.
Court’s Observation
After hearing both sides, the Delhi High Court framed two key questions:
- Whether the suit was maintainable in Delhi
- Whether the portrayal crossed the line from artistic expression to actionable defamation
On the first issue itself, the court ruled against Wankhede.
“The plaint is returned to the plaintiff to approach the Court of competent jurisdiction. Application, if any, stands dismissed,” the bench observed.
The court made it clear that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the allegations or the content of the show.
Read Also:- Delhi High Court Refuses to Reject Trakru Family Partition Suit, Says Will Dispute Needs Full Trial
Decision
The Delhi High Court dismissed the suit on the ground of lack of territorial jurisdiction and returned the plaint to Sameer Wankhede, granting him liberty to approach the appropriate court.
With this, the court brought an end to the proceedings in Delhi without examining the merits of the defamation claim.
Case Title: Sameer Dnyandev Wankhede v. Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. & Ors
Decision Date: 29 January 2026
