The Delhi High Court has dismissed Sameer Wankhede’s defamation suit against the Aryan Khan web series ‘The Ba**ds of Bollywood’, saying Mumbai courts have jurisdiction over the case.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed IRS officer Sameer Wankhede’s defamation suit against the web series ‘The Ba**ds of Bollywood’, produced by Shah Rukh Khan-owned Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd, ruling that it lacked territorial jurisdiction to hear the matter.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav observed that both parties were based in Mumbai and that the alleged acts of defamation had also occurred there. As a result, only courts in Mumbai were competent to adjudicate the dispute.
The court clarified that Wankhede was free to approach a court with appropriate jurisdiction.
“The jurisdiction to entertain the present suit lies only with the courts in Mumbai. This court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the plaint. The same is therefore returned to the plaintiff to be presented, if so advised, before a court of competent jurisdiction. Pending applications, if any, stand disposed of,” the court said.
Allegations against the web series
Wankhede had alleged that defamatory content was deliberately created in the web series to settle personal scores with him following the arrest of actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in a 2021 drugs case.
He claimed that the series, written and directed by Aryan Khan, was orchestrated to target and malign him.
The officer sued Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix, seeking an injunction against the series and Rs. 2 crore in damages. He had stated that the damages amount would be donated to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for cancer patients.
Claim of insult to National Emblem
In his lawsuit,
Wankhede alleged that the series depicts a character making an obscene gesture, specifically showing a middle finger, after reciting the slogan “Satyamev Jayate”, which forms part of the National Emblem.
He argued that the portrayal amounted to a grave violation of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and attracted penal consequences under the law.
Red Chillies and Netflix oppose suit
Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix opposed the lawsuit on the ground that the Delhi High Court lacked territorial jurisdiction and that the suit ought to have been filed in Mumbai.
Netflix argued that the show was a work of satire and dark comedy centred on Bollywood culture and could not be restrained through a defamation action. The platform submitted that Wankhede should not be “oversensitive” to a satirical scene lasting about one and a half minutes.
Red Chillies Entertainment further accused the officer of indulging in forum shopping, stating that the case had been filed in Delhi despite Wankhede residing in Mumbai and the company’s registered office also being located there.
Series defended as satire
On the content of the series, Red Chillies said the show addressed various controversies within the Hindi film industry, including nepotism, paparazzi culture, adultery, and the struggles faced by newcomers.
It maintained that the narrative employed parody and satirical elements, and that satire was recognised in law as a legitimate form of artistic expression and social commentary.
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