Delhi High Court Issues Summons to Red Chillies Entertainment, Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan, and Netflix in Sameer Wankhede Case

The Delhi High Court has issued summons to Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., the production company owned by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan, along with streaming giant Netflix, in a civil defamation suit filed by IRS officer Sameer Dnyandev Wankhede. The order was passed by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav on October 8, 2025, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal tussle. The Court has accepted Wankhede’s plea to take on record an amended plaint, noting his claims that his professional reputation has been severely tarnished.

 

According to the court proceedings, Wankhede’s counsel, Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, argued that defamatory content allegedly produced or distributed by the defendants had damaged his image within the Ministry of Revenue and among his senior colleagues. He contended that part of the cause of action arose within the territorial jurisdiction of Delhi, justifying the High Court’s jurisdiction in the matter. The defendants—including representatives from Red Chillies and Netflix—opposed the application, but the Court allowed it while preserving their right to contest the maintainability of the suit.

 

The Court subsequently ordered that the amended plaint be taken on record and that summons be issued to defendants numbered 3, 5, and 6. Counsel for Red Chillies and Netflix confirmed receipt of the suit paperbook and waived the requirement for formal service of summons. The defendants have been directed to file their written statements within thirty days from the receipt of the summons, while Wankhede is permitted to submit his reply to those statements within thirty days thereafter. The Court made it clear that unjustified denials of documents could attract costs.

 

In a related application under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the Court also directed that notices be issued to the remaining defendants, returnable by October 30, 2025. They have been asked to respond within seven days of receiving the notice, after which Wankhede may file his rejoinder within three days. The case will next be listed before the Joint Registrar on December 9, 2025, for completing pleadings and marking exhibits.

 

This case adds another legal layer to the high-profile dispute between Wankhede and Red Chillies Entertainment, following previous controversies involving law enforcement actions and media portrayals. With the Delhi High Court now actively addressing the defamation claims, the coming months could determine whether the allegations of reputational harm hold legal merit or if the defendants’ productions are shielded by creative and journalistic expression.

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