Former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede sues "B***ds of Bollywood' for defamation; demands 2 crores

Former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede has filed a defamation suit against the recently released web series "B***ds of Bollywood." The series, which marks the directorial debut of Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan, is produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, the production house owned by Shah Rukh and his wife Gauri Khan. The lawsuit, filed in the Delhi High Court, alleges that the series portrays Wankhede and anti-drug enforcement agencies in a "false, malicious, and defamatory" manner.

Wankhede, who gained national attention for his role in the high-profile 2021 drug case involving Aryan Khan, is seeking a whopping Rs 2 crore in damages. In a statement, his legal team specified that the entire amount, if awarded, will be donated to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for the treatment of cancer patients. This move, according to the lawsuit, is intended to highlight Wankhede's professional integrity and his commitment to a cause beyond personal gain.

The petition raises several strong objections to the content of the web series. It argues that the show presents a distorted and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, which could potentially erode public trust in law enforcement institutions. Wankhede's suit contends that the series was "deliberately conceptualised and executed" to malign his reputation, particularly since his legal case concerning Aryan Khan is still pending in the Bombay High Court.

A key point of contention in the lawsuit is a specific scene in the series where a character is shown making an obscene gesture—raising the middle finger—immediately after uttering the national slogan "Satyamev Jayate." Wankhede's plea contends that this act is a serious violation of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and is punishable under Indian law. This allegation adds a dimension of national sentiment to the defamation suit.

The backdrop to this legal battle is the much-publicized October 2021 cruise ship raid, where Aryan Khan was arrested by the NCB under Wankhede's leadership. Aryan, along with several others, was accused of consumption and 'conspiracy' under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Although Aryan was later given a clean chit by the NCB due to a lack of evidence, the case created a massive media storm and a public narrative that has now been revisited in Aryan Khan's directorial project.

The defamation suit not only seeks monetary damages but also demands a permanent injunction against the production house and Netflix to prevent further broadcasting of the allegedly defamatory content. The lawsuit highlights the complex intersection of personal history, public perception, and artistic expression, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle that will likely be watched closely by the entertainment industry and the public alike.