Delhi HC Rejects Sameer Wankhede Plea Against Aryan Khan Series

New Delhi, january 29, 2026: In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court has declined to entertain a defamation lawsuit filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede against the Netflix series The Bads of Bollywood***. The show, which marks the directorial debut of Aryan Khan, has been at the center of a heated legal battle involving allegations of character assassination and personal vendetta.

Court Cites Lack of Jurisdiction

On January 29, 2026, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav ruled that the Delhi High Court lacks the territorial jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter. The court noted that because the primary parties—including Wankhede himself and the production house, Red Chillies Entertainment—are based in Mumbai, the national capital was not the appropriate forum for the suit.

While the court “returned the plaint,” it did not dismiss the merits of Wankhede’s claims. Instead, it granted him the liberty to approach a court of competent jurisdiction, likely in Mumbai, to pursue the case further.

The Core of the Controversy

Wankhede, the former Zonal Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), became a household name after leading the 2021 Mumbai cruise drug raid that resulted in the arrest of Aryan Khan. Though Aryan was later cleared of all charges, the friction between the officer and the film industry has persisted.

In his suit, Wankhede alleged that:

• Targeted Ridicule: Episode 1 features a character with a striking resemblance to him in “appearance, conduct, and mannerisms.”
• Malice and Vendetta: He claimed the series was “orchestrated” to settle personal scores and avenge Aryan Khan’s previous arrest.
• National Insult: The suit highlighted a scene where a character makes an obscene gesture after reciting the national slogan “Satyamev Jayate,” which Wankhede argued violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.

Wankhede sought ₹2 crore in damages, stating that any compensation awarded would be donated to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.

Defense: “Satire, Not Defamation”

Legal representatives for Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix argued that the series is a fictional satire designed to critique Bollywood culture. They maintained that:

• The show addresses broad industry themes like nepotism, the “casting couch,” and drug abuse.
• Wankhede’s reputation was already a subject of public debate due to ongoing CBI investigations into allegations of extortion and conspiracy.
• Satire is a protected form of artistic expression under the law.

What’s Next for Sameer Wankhede?

Despite the setback in Delhi, Wankhede remains undeterred. In a statement following the ruling, he clarified that the case was not “dismissed” on its merits but merely redirected.

“This has not demotivated me at all; it’s just an order to approach the appropriate court. I will do the needful and keep fighting for justice,” Wankhede remarked.

The legal battle is now expected to shift to the Mumbai courts, where the focus will turn from jurisdictional technicalities to whether the series truly crossed the line from parody into defamation.