MUMBAI: Former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer and current IRS official Sameer Wankhede has responded after filing a ₹2 crore defamation case against Aryan Khan son of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. The dispute stems from the Netflix series The Bads of Bollywood, which Wankhede alleges portrays him in a false and defamatory light.
Speaking to PTI, Wankhede kept his comments brief. “I don’t want to say much. I will just say one thing Satyamev Jayate (Truth alone triumphs),” he remarked. Standing alongside him during the interaction was Samajwadi Party leader and Mankhurd Shivajinagar MLA Abu Asim Azmi.
Beyond the legal battle, Wankhede also underscored the importance of drug awareness in Mumbai. “In areas like northern and eastern Mumbai, it is crucial to educate people about different types of drugs and the legal provisions surrounding them. I am glad to have participated in a camp to talk with parents, children, and community leaders about these issues,” he said.
Why the Defamation Case?
The controversy erupted after viewers noticed that a character in The Bads of Bollywood strongly resembled Wankhede. The former officer, who arrested Aryan Khan in a 2021 drug case that dominated news cycles, claimed the portrayal was “malicious, misleading, and defamatory.” He said such depictions could undermine public confidence in anti-drug enforcement efforts.
₹2 Crore Damages, but for Charity
In his lawsuit, Wankhede has sought ₹2 crore in damages, but clarified that if awarded, the amount will be donated to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital to aid cancer patients.
Controversial Portrayal in the Series
The web series episode in question shows a character in a white shirt and dark trousers mirroring Wankhede’s style arriving at a party in a jeep and declaring a “war against drugs.” The officer is then depicted targeting Bollywood celebrities, even arresting someone not involved in drugs. The sequence also shows him making an obscene gesture immediately after uttering “Satyamev Jayate.”
Wankhede’s legal notice has argued that this depiction violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which carries criminal penalties.
Case Still Pending in Court
Wankhede also stressed that his legal battle with Aryan Khan is still ongoing in the Bombay High Court and the NDPS Special Court, Mumbai. He claimed the timing of the series was “deliberately prejudicial.”
With both sides set for a courtroom confrontation, the dispute has once again brought the high-profile Aryan Khan drug case and Wankhede’s role under sharp public scrutiny.
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