Defence of Satire Not Absolute Against Public Servants: Wankhede to Delhi High Court

Former NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede informed the Delhi High Court that the defence of satire cannot be invoked absolutely when a public servant’s reputation is targeted.

He made this submission while seeking an injunction and takedown of alleged defamatory scenes in the Netflix web series BADS of Bollywood. Wankhede argued that the series, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, falsely depicted him through a fictional character that ridicules his professional role, thereby exceeding the limits of artistic freedom.

The Court asked the production house to clarify whether the right to creative expression could justify such a portrayal of a serving officer.

[Sameer Dnyandev Wankhede v Red Chillies Entertainments Pvt. Ltd. & Ors]