Mumbai, September 2025:
Former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede has moved court against the makers of a recently released web series that draws inspiration from the Aryan Khan drug case of 2021. Wankhede has alleged that the show damages his professional reputation and presents him in a “false and defamatory light.”
According to legal sources, Wankhede filed a defamation suit this week before a Mumbai civil court. His petition states that the OTT series, while marketed as a fictional drama, mirrors real-life events from the Mumbai cruise drug bust that led to the arrest of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan.
Wankhede has sought removal of specific episodes and demanded an official apology from the producers. The case is expected to come up for hearing in the coming days.
In October 2021, the NCB raided a luxury cruise ship off Mumbai’s coast. Several individuals were detained, including Aryan Khan. Although no drugs were recovered from Aryan, he was arrested under the NDPS Act and spent nearly a month in custody. The case drew widespread national and international attention, with debates over alleged lapses in the investigation, media trial, and celebrity targeting. Months later, Aryan Khan was cleared of all charges due to insufficient evidence, and the NCB admitted that no case could be sustained against him.
At the time, Sameer Wankhede led the NCB’s Mumbai zonal unit. His actions, including Aryan Khan’s arrest, placed him at the centre of both praise and criticism.
Supporters hailed him as a tough officer tackling the drug menace. Critics accused him of conducting a “witch hunt” against Bollywood celebrities. Since then, Wankhede has faced multiple inquiries regarding his handling of the case.
The web series, released on a leading OTT platform last month, portrays the arrest of a film star’s son and the officer who led the investigation. While character names are altered, the storyline and references leave little doubt about its real-life inspiration. In his petition, Wankhede claims that: The officer character is shown as corrupt and manipulative. The series suggests that Aryan’s arrest was part of a deliberate conspiracy. Such portrayal has caused “serious harm” to his image in society. The petition further argues that disclaimers used by the producers are “insufficient” since the resemblance to real-life figures is obvious.
Under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, defamation is a punishable offence if false information harms a person’s reputation. If the court rules in Wankhede’s favour, the producers may be asked to edit or withdraw the series, besides paying damages. Legal experts believe the case could become a landmark ruling on how far filmmakers can go while adapting real events for entertainment.
The lawsuit has triggered intense discussions in Bollywood and media circles. Filmmakers argue that artistic freedom must be protected, especially when disclaimers are added. Legal commentators note that officials like Wankhede are entitled to safeguard their reputations. Social media users remain divided: some sympathise with Wankhede, while others see the show as an attempt to highlight misuse of power.
Neither Aryan Khan nor Shah Rukh Khan has commented on the fresh legal action. Sources close to the family suggest that they wish to avoid renewed controversy after having endured months of public scrutiny in 2021.
The court is expected to issue notices to the OTT platform and production house in the coming hearings. The outcome of this case could shape the future of biopics and dramatizations in India, where filmmakers often walk a fine line between fact and fiction. For now, the 2021 cruise drug case—once thought to be settled—is back in headlines, reopening a debate about law enforcement, celebrity trials, and media representation.
