Former Indian team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is set to record his statement in a ₹100 crore defamation case against two major media channels and a journalist for allegedly dragging his name into the IPL betting scandal.
Sports News: Former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 11-year-old defamation case is once again in the spotlight. This case is related to the 2013 IPL betting scandal, in which Dhoni's name was implicated. Dhoni filed a defamation suit of ₹100 crore against two major media channels and a journalist in 2014. Now, the Madras High Court has ordered the commencement of trial proceedings in this matter, and Dhoni will record his statement.
What is the case?
In 2013, the spot-fixing and betting scandal during the Indian Premier League (IPL) shook the cricket world. Several prominent names emerged in this case, and two franchises—Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals—were also suspended for two years. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was the captain of Chennai Super Kings at the time, was also mentioned in a television debate. Dhoni alleges that defamatory remarks were made against him in that debate, causing severe damage to his reputation.
Dhoni filed a defamation case in the Madras High Court in 2014, seeking damages of ₹100 crore. His lawyer, PR Raman, stated in an affidavit filed in court that the suit was filed for a just and expeditious disposal, but the matter has been pending for a decade for various reasons.
Court Order
Justice CV Karthikeyan of the Madras High Court has appointed an Advocate Commissioner in this case, who will record evidence on behalf of Dhoni. The court has clarified that there should be no further delay in the trial proceedings. Dhoni has also stated in the affidavit that he will fully cooperate with the Court and the Advocate Commissioner and will comply with all legal instructions.
The 2013 controversy is considered one of the biggest scandals in the history of Indian cricket. Three players were found guilty of spot-fixing. Two franchises—Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals—were suspended for two years. Several team officials were also accused of being involved in betting.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020, but he continues to play for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. Under his captaincy, CSK has won the IPL title five times. Dhoni is regarded as one of the most successful and respected cricket captains in the world. Dhoni's defamation case is an example of how players do not hesitate to take legal recourse to protect their image.
