Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, finds himself in the spotlight once again for the wrong reasons. The latest development involves IRS officer Sameer Wankhede, who has filed a defamation suit against Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd, co-owned by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan, as well as the streaming platform Netflix and other parties.
Details of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit has been submitted to the Delhi High Court. In his petition, Sameer is seeking a permanent injunction against a web series and damages. This legal action comes in the wake of Aryan’s recent digs at Sameer, who had detained him during a cruise raid in Mumbai in October 2021 over alleged narcotics possession.
Sameer Wankhede asserts that the newly released OTT series ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’, directed by Aryan, contains false, malicious, and defamatory content. He claims that the portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies has been adversely affected, negatively impacting public trust in law enforcement.
The series features a scene in which a drug enforcement officer, resembling Sameer, conducts a raid at a party, reminiscent of the October 2021 cruise incident.
Claims of Defamation
Wankhede has accused the web series of containing biased and defamatory content aimed at him. He also pointed out that the case involving him and Aryan Khan is currently pending in both the Bombay High Court and a special NDPS court in Mumbai.
One specific allegation highlights a moment in the web series where a character utters “Satyamev Jayate” followed by an obscene gesture. Wankhede claims this is an insult to a slogan integral to the national emblem and constitutes an offense under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
Furthermore, the suit alleges that the series violates various sections of the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code by attempting to hurt national sentiments through the use of obscene and objectionable content.
Demand for Damages
In his suit, Sameer Wankhede is demanding damages of Rs 2 crore, which he plans to donate for the treatment of cancer patients at Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.
The series is produced by Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd and is available for streaming on Netflix.
Background of the Case
On October 2, 2021, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), led by Wankhede, conducted a raid on a cruise ship off Mumbai, alleging drug possession among attendees. Aryan Khan, along with others, was arrested on charges filed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
However, Aryan was later given a clean chit by the NCB, which stated that no substantial evidence was found to connect him to the case, resulting in the dropping of charges against him. The NDPS court also ordered that Aryan’s passport be returned after he received the clean chit.