A decade after former Indian cricket team captain M S Dhoni filed a defamation suit, seeking Rs 100 crore in damages, from a private TV channel, a journalist and a retired IPS officer as well as News Nation Network, for dragging his name into the infamous IPL betting scam, the Madras High Court on Monday passed orders to this effect.
Justice CV Karthikeyan passed the orders after an affidavit was submitted by Dhoni’s counsel expressing his intent to proceed with the trial in the suit pending since 2014. The Cricket star also submitted that he will be available for examination and cross examination between October 20 and December 10, 2025.
With Dhoni submitting that the dates and venue could be fixed on mutual convenience, the Judge appointed an advocate commissioner to record the evidence and statement of the cricket mascot in Chennai. Considering Dhoni being a celebrity, the Judge appointed the advocate commissioner to avoid possible chaos in the court premises. After the completion of the recording of evidence in full, the suit would be listed for hearing, the Judge added.
On behalf of Dhoni, senior counsel PS Raman submitted the affidavit which read “The above request is made with the intent to avoid any undue delay (in the disposal of the suit) and to support the fair, just and speedy adjudication. I state that I shall extend full cooperation with the Advocate Commissioner and comply with all directions issued by this honourable court regarding the trial and recording of evidence.”
Dhoni had sued Zee Media Corporation, journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, Retired IPS officer G Sampath Kumar and News Nation Network for liking him in the betting scam and the trial got delayed due to the parties filing multiple applications, seeking one relief or another.
In December 2023, a Division Bench of the High Court had convicted Sampath Kumar for contempt of court and sentenced him to 15 days simple imprisonment. But the Supreme Court stayed it the next year. The contempt petition was filed by Dhoni against the former IPS officer for scandalising the High Court as well as the apex court.3