Mumbai: Former Mumbai zonal director of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Sameer Wankhede, has broken his silence on the defamation suit filed against Netflix and Red Chillies Entertainment, claiming that he and his family have been receiving hate messages.
Former NCB officer revealed that Aryan Khan’s family has been targeted with hate messages from Pakistan, UAE and Bangladesh after he filed a defamation case against Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix over the web series ‘The Ba**ads of Bollywood’ related to him.
Describing the defamation case as a “battle of honour”, Wankhede said, “I personally believe that this has nothing to do with my job or my profession. In my individual capacity, I have approached the Delhi High Court. I would not like to comment on the court proceedings or issues related to it, as the matter is sub-judice. It is a matter of self-respect, personal dignity and personal honour.”
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He further added, “Whatever satire or parody you make, make it within your field or profession. Today, drug abuse has become a major issue for our country, and by portraying such things, you are not only insulting an individual, but also those who have worked with me and others who continue to fight against drug abuse.”
Wankhede further said that his fight is for the honor of his family, “My family has nothing to do with my profession. They have nothing to do with my affairs, my profession, but why are they feeling the brunt of things like this? Hate messages are coming from Pakistan, UAE and Bangladesh. I will not accept that because of me they are having to suffer the brunt of it… We have regularly informed the police about their Informed about the threats that my sister and my wife continue to receive…”
Also Read: Sameer Wankhede vs Aryan Khan: Delhi High Court summons Red Chillies, Netflix, others in Bollywood defamation case
Expressing his faith in the legal system, Sameer said, “..I have faith in our judiciary, our Constitution and the system of our country. I am a loyal soldier of the Government of India. There are many checks and balances in our system, and there is a proper rule book, the Constitution, according to which we work. One person does not take decisions here. Everything is done as per the rules and regulations. It is not about any publicity; it is about dignity. That kind of I am receiving hate messages, no self-respecting man will remain silent on this. I will fight this legal battle to the fullest extent possible. I have presented all the messages before the Delhi High Court…”
On October 8, the Delhi High Court issued summons to Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd and others in a civil defamation suit filed by Wankhede.
Justice Purushindra Kumar Kaurav issued summons (notice) on Sameer Wankhede’s petition against Red Chillies Entertainment and others.
The High Court has asked Red Chillies Entertainment and others to file their reply within seven days. In the petition, a reply has been asked to be filed within three days.
The court has asked the petitioner to provide a copy of the petition to all the respondents. The matter has been listed for hearing on October 30.
The High Court refused to give any immediate relief to the petitioner and asked him to come after 10 days. In his suit, Wankhede has sought relief in the nature of permanent and mandatory injunction, declaration and damages against the production house, Netflix and others, saying he is aggrieved by a false, malicious and defamatory video featuring Aryan Khan’s directorial debut show, ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’.
“The series spreads a misleading and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, thereby undermining public confidence in law enforcement institutions,” he claimed in his petition.
He also claimed that the series has been deliberately conceived and executed with the intention of tarnishing the reputation of Sameer Wankhede in a tarnished and prejudicial manner, especially when the proceedings involving him and Aryan Khan are pending before the Bombay High Court and NDPS Special Court, Mumbai.
He argued that at a time when a judicial investigation is underway, this portrayal unfairly targets him.