The legal war over the Netflix series Ba**ds of Bollywood has taken a decisive turn. The Delhi High Court has declined to hear the case filed by former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede. The court ruled that it does not have territorial jurisdiction over the matter.
The order was issued on Thursday, January 29. The court dismissed Wankhede’s plea seeking the removal of certain scenes from the series. With this decision, the case has effectively ended in Delhi.
Sameer Wankhede had approached the court claiming that a specific scene in Episode 1 was defamatory. The scene appears between 32:02 and 33:50 of the episode. He argued that a character closely resembled him in looks, behavior, and mannerisms.
Wankhede claimed that the portrayal damaged his public image. He also said that media coverage after the show’s release worsened the harm. He further argued that the Delhi High Court had jurisdiction because departmental proceedings linked to him are based in Delhi. He also cited the show’s promotion in the capital.
However, Shah Rukh Khan’s production company Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix opposed the petition. Their legal teams stated that the Delhi High Court was not the correct forum. They argued that both Wankhede’s residence and Red Chillies’ registered office are in Mumbai.
The respondents also maintained that the series is a fictional and satirical work. They denied any reference to the 2021 Cordelia cruise ship raid. They stressed that the show does not recreate real events or individuals.
The court accepted these arguments and dismissed the case. As a result, the legal war over the series has ended in Delhi. Wankhede may still approach a competent court in another jurisdiction.
The case attracted attention due to its link to Aryan Khan. He was arrested by Wankhede during the 2021 NCB cruise ship raid. Aryan Khan and five others were later cleared by the agency in 2022.
With the court’s ruling, the legal war over the Netflix series now moves out of the Delhi legal system. The matter remains closed unless pursued elsewhere.
In other news read more about: The Ba**ds of Bollywood: Ranbir Kapoor Faces Court Heat
