In 2014, around 11 years ago, MS Dhoni filed a defamation suit against media organisations, a journalist, and a retired IPS officer for allegedly linking him to the Indian Premier League (IPL) betting scandal. According to a TOI report, the case will finally go to trial this Monday, with Dhoni set to record his statement before an advocate commissioner appointed by the High Court judge.
MS Dhoni’s Rs 100-cr defamation case
The former India skipper has sought Rs 100 crore in damages from Zee Media Corporation and News Nation Network, along with journalist Sudhir Chaudhary and retired IPS officer G Sampath Kumar, accusing them of falsely implicating him in the IPL betting scandal.
In an affidavit, which was submitted by senior counsel PR Raman, Dhoni has agreed to appear before the court for examination and cross-examination between October 20 and December 10 this year. For that, Justice CV Karthikeyan has appointed an advocate commissioner to record his statement. This statement will be recorded at a mutually agreed-upon location in Chennai to avoid crowding and disruptions in the court, the outlet further reported.
As per the lawsuit, which was filed in 2014, the defendants repeatedly broadcast and published “false and defamatory” claims linking Dhoni to betting, match-fixing, and spot-fixing from February 11 of that year. These comments were made during the TV debate on the 2013 IPL betting scandal, which in turn, tarnished his image.
Not only that, News Nation went as far as airing a segment saying that Dhoni had been summoned by Tamil Nadu Police.
2013 IPL spot-fixing and betting case
In 2013, two IPL franchises – CSK and RR – were banned for two years after the Justice Lodha Committee probed into the spot-fixing scandal. The controversy drew in high-profile figures, including then BCCI president N Srinivasan’s son-in-law and Chennai Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan, as well as Raj Kundra, businessman and husband of actress Shilpa Shetty. Three Rajasthan Royals players, namely, S Sreesanth, Ankit Chavan, and Ajit Chandila, were also arrested. However, they were given a clean chit by the Patiala House Courts.
As captain of CSK at the time, Dhoni’s name was dragged into the controversy, though no allegations against him have ever been proven.
The trial has been stalled for over a decade due to various applications and procedural objections raised by the defendants.
The High Court’s order paves the way for a long-delayed trial, as Dhoni aims to clear his name and hold those he accuses of defamation accountable.