Ex-NCB Officer Sues Netflix Over Defamatory Portrayal in 'The Ba**ds of Bollywood'

In November 2025, former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal head Sameer Wankhede filed a Rs 2 crore defamation suit against Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix over the web series 'The Ba**ds of Bollywood'. Wankhede alleges a character in the show, which was released globally in September 2025, is a satirical representation of him that has brought ridicule to him and his family.

During a hearing in the Delhi High Court, Wankhede's counsel argued the depiction in the series was "false, malicious, and defamatory", negatively impacting Wankhede's reputation and public trust in anti-drug enforcement agencies. The lawyer contended the character's resemblance to Wankhede, combined with references to the film industry, was clearly intended to mock and malign him.

Wankhede's plea also refers to a specific scene where a character modeled after him storms a Bollywood party, utters the national motto "Satyamev Jayate," and makes an obscene gesture, which he claims violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. The former officer asserts the portrayal has caused mental distress and "irreparable harm" to his personal and professional reputation.