Sameer Wankhede Takes Legal Action Against Aryan Khan's Netflix Series: The Complete Story Behind 'Ba***ds of Bollywood' Controversy

New Delhi:

Former Narcotics Control Bureau officer Sameer Wankhede has approached the Delhi High Court regarding his alleged portrayal in a web series. This comes after the controversial 2021 case where he arrested Shah Rukh Khan's son, Aryan Khan, during a raid on a cruise ship party.

The web series in question is 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood', a satirical production created, co-written and directed by Aryan Khan for Netflix, featuring Bobby Deol among its cast.

Wankhede's primary concern centers on a scene in the first episode depicting a character reportedly 'heavily inspired' by him, who pursues 'people from Bollywood...who are doing drugs'. His complaint specifically names Shah Rukh Khan and his production company, Red Chillies Entertainment, alleging "bad portrayal of an anti-drugs body" and seeking damages of Rs 2 crore.

In his statement, Wankhede claimed the show was 'deliberately conceptualised and executed with the intent to malign his reputation in a colourable and prejudicial manner'.

This isn't Wankhede's only recent legal action. On September 3, he accused former model Namrata Shroff of publishing 'false and malicious content' about high-profile cases he oversaw on social media, allegedly causing 'irreparable damage to his reputation'.

The original Aryan Khan case dominated mainstream media in 2021, generating numerous conspiracy theories and passionate debates about guilt and innocence.

Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, was arrested along with six others by the Narcotics Control Bureau on October 3.

With intense media scrutiny into his personal life and that of his famous father, the then-24-year-old spent 22 days in jail—an extraordinary experience for someone born into wealth and privilege. He was eventually granted bail on October 31.

The controversy included several notable incidents, including reports that SRK's son had to spend an additional night in jail because the court's bail order didn't reach Mumbai's Arthur Road prison in time for his October 30 release.

His bail applications were rejected twice before finally being approved by the Bombay High Court—first by a magistrate's court and then by a special narcotics court.

The case featured many dramatic elements worthy of a Bollywood script. Perhaps most significantly, authorities ultimately found no drugs on Aryan Khan's person or in his possession.

Aryan Khan was later cleared of all charges. The NCB itself—under a team led by SK Singh—acknowledged the 'lack of evidence' and identified significant flaws in Sameer Wankhede's investigation.

Instead, Wankhede and his team faced scrutiny regarding their handling of the case and apparent targeting of Aryan Khan. Speculation about political motivations soon emerged—suggesting that SRK's son had been targeted precisely because of his famous father.

Reports also surfaced alleging that Wankhede demanded substantial bribes to secure the young man's release.

An investigation was launched into the former NCB officer, who strongly denied all allegations and described his prosecution as 'politically motivated'. He even presented text messages—purportedly from Shah Rukh Khan—to demonstrate his fairness and integrity in handling the case.

The investigation continues today, with numerous twists and turns befitting a Bollywood drama. This includes the NCB's reassignment of the officer leading the inquiry—a transfer the agency described as 'routine' and explained by stating that the previous officer had completed his tenure.