Delhi HC summons Shah Rukh Khan, Netflix in Sameer Wankhede defamation case
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued summons to actor Shah Rukh Khan, his wife Gauri Khan's company Red Chillies Entertainment, and the OTT platform Netflix in a defamation case. The summons were issued on a petition filed by former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede. The court has given all parties seven days to file their replies.
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In his petition, Sameer Wankhede alleged that the web series "The Ba**ds of Bollywood," released on September 18, has damaged his reputation. The show was produced by Shah Rukh Khan's production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, and streamed on Netflix.
Wankhede claims that a character in the series portrays him as an NCB officer, and the scenes in which he is shown defame him.
Sameer Wankhede seeks 2 crore rupees in damages
The former NCB officer has requested the court to declare the show's content defamatory and has sought 2 crore rupees in damages. Wankhede claims that after the show aired, he faced numerous derogatory reactions on social media, severely damaging his public image. According to him, the show is not only false but also questions his professional integrity.
'No one's image can be tampered with'
In the defamation petition, he stated that no person's image can be tampered with under the guise of any creative or filmic imagination. Wankhede also explained that while his name or identity may not be directly used in the show, it's clear to viewers that the character is inspired by him.
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Summary
During the initial hearing, the Delhi High Court issued notices to all respondents, directing them to respond within seven days. The court will hear arguments from all parties on October 30th