NEW DELHI: The lawsuit filed by IRS officer and former NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede against Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, and others has not only alleged defamatory content but also claimed that Aryan Khan’s ‘Ba***ds of Bollywood’ had an “obscene gesture” towards “Satyamev Jayate.”The case filed on Thursday has sought Rs 2 crore in damages. It has also soughtto halt the streaming and distribution of the series and to officially declare it defamatory. Wankhede contended that the content not only damaged his personal reputation but also eroded public trust in the institutions tasked with enforcing drug laws.
Here’s what the case is all about:
- Parties and allegation: The plea has been filed against Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, and others. It alleged that their series contained a “false, malicious and defamatory” portrayal of Wankhade. “This series disseminates a misleading and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, thereby eroding public confidence in law enforcement institutions,” advocate representing him, said.
- Negative portrayal of agencies: The plea claims the series misrepresents anti-drug enforcement agencies, harming public confidence in law enforcement institutions.
- Obscene gesture: The series reportedly showed a character making a middle-finger gesture while reciting “Satyamev Jayate,” part of the National Emblem, allegedly violating the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
- Additional legal breaches: The lawyers argued that it contravened provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) by outraging national sentiment through obscene content.
- Damages sought: Wankhade is seeking Rs 2 crore in damages, which he intends to donate to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for cancer patients.
