Former NCB zonal director and IRS officer Sameer Wankhede faces a setback in the Delhi High Court, as Justice Purushindra Kumar Kaurav questions the basis for filing his defamation suit in Delhi.
The bench observes that the petition does not appear maintainable in its current form, casting doubt on its viability.
Wankhede files a defamation case seeking ₹2 crore in damages against several parties, including Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan’s company Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd, as well as Netflix.
He alleges that the web series Bads of Bollywood, streamed on the platform, spreads false, malicious, and defamatory claims about him. According to him, the portrayal of drug-related investigations in the series erodes public trust in law enforcement agencies and tarnishes his reputation.
Petitioner’s Claims on National Honour
The petition highlights scenes in which a character shouts ‘Satyamev Jayate’ before showing a middle finger, which Wankhede calls an insult to a national slogan.
He argues this violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and breaches provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code.
While questioning the seriousness of the petition, the Delhi High Court grants Wankhede permission to amend his plea. The court registry will determine the next hearing date. Wankhede has stated his intention to donate any damages awarded to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for cancer patients’ treatment.
The defamation plea comes against the backdrop of the still-pending Aryan Khan drug case in the Bombay High Court and lower courts.
Wankhede contends that the series targets him personally, seeking to damage his credibility and influence the public’s perception of ongoing investigations.
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