Court Questions Wankhede’s Dfamation Suit Against Aryan Khan

MUMBAI- The defamation suit filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede against director Aryan Khan, Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, and OTT platform Netflix has been directed for amendment by the Delhi High Court.

The Delhi High Court questioned the maintainability of the plea, specifically asking why Wankhede’s defamation suit was filed in Delhi. Following this questioning, the court asked Wankhede to amend his petition. The hearing on the suit will be deferred until the revised defamation petition is submitted.

Sameer Wankhede alleged that the recently released OTT series ‘The Ba**tards of Bollywood’, directed by Aryan, contains false, malicious, and defamatory content. He also claimed that the series has tarnished the image of anti-drug enforcement agencies, undermining public trust in law enforcement.

The series features a sequence where a drug enforcement agency officer, who allegedly bears a striking resemblance to Wankhede, raids a party. This scene is similar to the cruise party raid the officer conducted in October 2021.

Wankhede asserted that the web series deliberately includes biased and defamatory content against him. He pointed out that the original Sameer Wankhede and Aryan Khan case is currently pending before the Bombay High Court and a special NDPS court in Mumbai.

He further alleged that a character in the web series is shown saying “Satyamev Jayate” and immediately follows it with an obscene gesture. Wankhede claimed this constitutes an insult to the slogan, which is part of the national emblem, making it an offence punishable under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.

It has also been alleged that the series’ content violates various sections of the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code because it attempts to hurt national sentiments by using obscene and objectionable material. (IANS)