On September 26, 2025, the Delhi High Court examined the maintainability of a defamation suit filed by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede against Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., Netflix, and other entities over the portrayal of a character resembling him in the web series The Ba**ds of Bollywood*, directed by Aryan Khan. The series, which dramatizes the 2021 Cordelia cruise drugs-on-cruise case, allegedly depicted Wankhede in a defamatory light.
Court's Initial Observations
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav questioned the jurisdiction of the Delhi High Court to entertain the suit, emphasizing that the plaint lacked specific averments regarding how the alleged defamation had a direct impact in Delhi. The Court remarked that the suit appeared to be filed in Delhi without establishing a clear cause of action within the jurisdiction, stating, "Had your case been that look I've been defamed at various places including Delhi and max damage is in Delhi, we would have still considered here."
Plaintiff's Response
Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing Wankhede, contended that the series was accessible nationwide, including in Delhi, and that the widespread distribution of the series had led to the circulation of memes and discussions defaming his client within the jurisdiction. He requested time to amend the plaint to address the Court's concerns.
Court's Direction
Considering Section 9 of the Civil Procedure Code, which deals with the jurisdiction of civil courts, the Court allowed Wankhede to amend his plaint to include specific details about how the alleged defamation had affected him in Delhi. The Court clarified that it would not assign a hearing date until the amended application was filed and listed by the Registry.
Defendants and Relief Sought
The suit names several defendants, including Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., Netflix, X Corp (formerly Twitter), Google LLC, Meta Platforms, RPG Lifestyle Media Pvt. Ltd., and John Doe entities. Wankhede seeks damages amounting to ₹2 crore, which he intends to donate to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for the treatment of cancer patients. Additionally, he has sought a permanent and mandatory injunction against the production house and others to prevent the further dissemination of the allegedly defamatory content.
Conclusion
The Delhi High Court's scrutiny of the suit's maintainability underscores the importance of establishing a clear cause of action within the jurisdiction where the suit is filed. The opportunity to amend the plaint allows Wankhede to provide specific details regarding the impact of the alleged defamation in Delhi, which will be crucial for the Court's consideration of the suit's merits.
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