Overview

• Former NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede has sued over the Netflix series The Ba***ds of Bollywood, alleging defamation tied to a character he says resembles him.
• The Delhi High Court issued summons to Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix and other respondents, declined immediate injunction, and directed replies within seven days with a rejoinder due three days later.
• Wankhede seeks a permanent injunction and takedown of alleged defamatory material online, plus Rs 2 crore in damages to be donated to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.
• His plea argues the series portrays anti-drug agencies in a misleading, negative light and objects to a scene he says insults national honour by pairing a gesture with the slogan Satyameva Jayate.
• Wankhede says his wife and sister have received hate messages and threats from Pakistan, the UAE and Bangladesh, and he has informed police, while Aryan Khan describes the show’s humour as self-deprecating rather than disrespectful.