Setback for Sameer Wankhede: Delhi HC Dismisses ₹2 Crore Defamation Case Against Shahrukh-Gauri

In a major setback for IRS officer and former NCB official Sameer Wankhede, the Delhi High Court has dismissed his ₹2 crore defamation petition against Shahrukh Khan, Gauri Khan, and Netflix over the web series ‘Bads of Bollywood’. Wankhede had alleged that the series, directed by Bollywood superstar Aryan Khan, mocked him and harmed his reputation.

Court’s Verdict

On Thursday, Justice Purushendra Kumar Kaurav refused to hear the petition on grounds of lack of jurisdiction. The court directed Wankhede to approach a competent court with proper territorial jurisdiction, effectively dismissing the case in Delhi. The judge clarified that Wankhede remains free to file the matter in the appropriate forum.

Legal Arguments in Court

The hearing saw a detailed legal debate:

• Sameer Wankhede’s side: Senior advocate J. Sai Deepak argued that the Delhi court was competent to hear the matter, citing the presence of Wankhede’s relatives in the city and pending departmental proceedings connected to the former NCB officer.
• Red Chillies Entertainment’s side: Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul countered that Mumbai had proper jurisdiction, as Wankhede resides there and the production house is registered in Mumbai.
• Netflix’s defense: Senior counsel Rajiv Nair emphasized that the series is satirical dark comedy and argued that the defamation standard is high, making preliminary relief inappropriate. He further noted that allegations related to Wankhede and Aryan Khan were already public since 2022.

Allegations by Wankhede

In his petition, Wankhede claimed the series depicted him in a false, malicious, and defamatory manner. He objected to a specific scene showing a character raising a middle finger immediately after chanting ‘Satyamev Jayate’, which he argued disrespected the national honor. The petition cited violations of the Information Technology Act, Indian Penal Code, and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.

Defendants in the Case

The petition named Shahrukh Khan and Gauri Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, X Corp (formerly Twitter), Google LLC, Meta Platforms, RPG Lifestyle Media Pvt Ltd, and John Doe as defendants.

Context

Sameer Wankhede rose to prominence in 2021 for his involvement in the alleged drug-related case against Aryan Khan, which brought him into the national spotlight. His petition sought ₹2 crore in damages, reportedly intended for donation to Tata Memorial Hospital for cancer patients.