Defamation Lawsuit by MS Dhoni Hits Court: Madras High Court Sets Trial Date - Unveiling Court Proceedings
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's long-awaited defamation suit, initially filed in 2014, commenced trial on August 11, 2022, at the Madras High Court. Justice CV Karthikeyan is presiding over the case.
The former Team India captain seeks damages of Rs 100 crores from Zee Media Corporation, journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, retired IPS officer G Sampath Kumar, and News Nation Network. The suit alleges defamatory reports linking Dhoni to the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) betting, match-fixing, and spot-fixing scandal.
Dhoni's defamation suit stems from defamatory remarks made during a TV debate and other media broadcasts following the 2013 IPL betting scandal. Dhoni denied these allegations, considering them baseless. The scandal primarily targeted Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, leading to a two-year ban on the teams and investigations of officials associated with them.
The trial has been pending in court for 11 years due to multiple applications by the defending parties. Dhoni will be available for examination and cross-examination between October 20 and December 10, 2022. He will record his statement at a mutually convenient premises in Chennai, as appointed by the court, to avoid any chaos outside the court.
In his 2014 suit, Dhoni accused Zee Media Corporation Limited (Zee News), Sudhir Chaudhary, Editor and Business Head of Zee News Channel, and G Sampath of running a scandalous agenda against him since February 2014. News Nation Network is also accused of launching a similar agenda, which included false claims about Dhoni being summoned by the Tamil Nadu police.
Interestingly, Dhoni's nickname 'Captain Cool' is currently being sought for trademark. Despite the ongoing trial, Dhoni has reaffirmed his intent to continue with the trial for his defamation suit.
[1] The Hindu, "Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 100-crore defamation suit trial begins at Madras High Court", August 11, 2022. [2] PTI, "Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 100-crore defamation suit trial begins at Madras High Court", August 11, 2022. [3] Indian Express, "Mahendra Singh Dhoni files Rs 100 crore defamation suit against Zee Media, Sudhir Chaudhary, others", February 13, 2014. [4] Times of India, "Mahendra Singh Dhoni files Rs 100 crore defamation suit against Zee Media, Sudhir Chaudhary, others", February 13, 2014.
- The ongoing defamation trial of former Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, initially filed in 2014, not only involves sports-related allegations of his alleged link to the 2013 IPL betting scandal, but also includes elements from the general-news sector, with charges of defamatory broadcasts by Zee Media Corporation and their journalist Sudhir Chaudhary.
- Aside from sports, this legal battle also delves into the business aspect, as Dhoni seeks damages of Rs 100 crores from the Zee Media Corporation, with implications for media ethics and the potential consequences for journalists and news outlets operating within the realm of crime-and-justice reporting.
