A fresh legal skirmish has ignited, pulling an old rivalry back into the spotlight. This time, it’s not about drug allegations, but about a web series. Sameer Wankhede, a former top official with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), has taken legal action. He has filed a defamation lawsuit against Red Chillies Entertainment, Netflix, and other involved parties.
The lawsuit landed in the Delhi High Court on Thursday. Wankhede claims that the recently released web series, "The Bads of Bollywood," unfairly attacks his reputation. The show was directed by Aryan Khan, superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son. Wankhede argues the series painted him in a false and damaging light. He feels it hurt his standing and the overall trust people have in law enforcement agencies. He is asking the court to stop the series from streaming. He also wants 2 crore rupees in damages.
Sameer Wankhede, former NCB Mumbai zonal director, has filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., owned by actor Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan, global streaming platform Netflix, and others. He alleges that their series “Ba**ds…
— ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2025
To truly understand this new dispute, we need to rewind to an event that gripped the nation.
The Man in the Middle
Sameer Wankhede is a seasoned Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer from the 2008 batch. He once served as the Zonal Director for the Mumbai NCB. During his career, he handled many high-profile investigations. He built a name for himself as a strict and straightforward officer. Yet, his most public moment by far was the Aryan Khan case.
– Photo : ANI
The story began on the night of October 2, 2021. The NCB launched a major raid on the Cordelia cruise ship. This vessel was sailing from Mumbai to Goa. Wankhede led this operation. The agency had received secret information about potential drug use and illegal activities at a party on the cruise. Many people were taken into custody during the raid. Among them was Aryan Khan.
Arrest and Allegations
– Photo : Instagram
On October 3, 2021, the NCB officially arrested Aryan Khan. He faced accusations of being involved in drug supply and an international drug network. However, a crucial detail quickly emerged: no drugs were found on him during the raid. Despite this, the agency pointed to his WhatsApp chats. They claimed these chats and alleged contacts suggested drug use and connections. This quickly became a very controversial point in the entire case.
Aryan Khan was then sent to Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail. For 22 days, his story dominated news cycles nationwide. Everyone, from the film industry to political figures, discussed the case. Aryan’s lawyer, Satish Maneshinde, repeatedly argued for bail in court. He stressed that no drugs were found, and no medical tests showed drug consumption. Still, the court initially denied bail, and the legal battle continued for several hearings.
Relief and Lingering Impact
– Photo : Video grab
Finally, on October 28, 2021, the Bombay High Court granted Aryan Khan bail. The court concluded there was no strong evidence against him for drug dealing or consumption. He walked free from jail on October 29.
The arrest left deep scars not just on Aryan and Shah Rukh Khan’s family, but also on Sameer Wankhede. He faced ongoing criticism and allegations. Some accused him of acting under political pressure or deliberately targeting high-profile individuals. Later, an NCB Special Investigation Team (SIT) confirmed in its report that there wasn’t enough evidence against Aryan Khan. The case that had captured the entire country’s attention, it seemed, was built on weak ground.
A New Chapter, Old Feelings
– Photo : Amar Ujala Bureau, Mumbai
Throughout 2021, Shah Rukh Khan and his family endured constant media scrutiny and legal battles. Meanwhile, Wankhede also faced questions about his methods. Now, Aryan Khan has made his directorial debut. He created his first web series, and some scenes from it have deeply upset Wankhede. This personal grievance has once again landed both parties in court.
The web series in question, "The Bads of Bollywood," is currently streaming on Netflix. In the show, a character appears to be an NCB officer. His mannerisms are said to strongly resemble Sameer Wankhede’s. Wankhede claims the show wrongly portrays the agency and its officers. He specifically points to a scene where an offensive gesture follows a religious chant. Wankhede calls this an insult to national honor.
In his petition, Wankhede argues that the show damages not only his own image but also the good name of the anti-drug agency. He has asked the court to have the series removed from the streaming platform. He also seeks a ban on its future broadcast. He plans to donate the 2 crore rupees in damages to help cancer patients. The court will soon hear this case. Until a decision is made, this fresh round of controversy will surely keep everyone talking.