Madras High Court Orders Trial in MS Dhoni’s Rs 100 Crore Defamation Suit Against Sudhir Chaudhary, Media Houses and IPS Officer
The defamation case, originally filed in 2014, stems from a series of reports and broadcasts that Dhoni claims were “false and defamatory.”
CHENNAI– The Madras High Court has set the stage for a significant legal battle by ordering the commencement of trial in a decade-old defamation suit filed by former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The lawsuit, seeking ₹100 crore in damages, targets Zee Media Corporation, journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer G Sampath Kumar, and News Nation Network for allegedly linking Dhoni to the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) betting and match-fixing scandal.
The defamation case, originally filed in 2014, stems from a series of reports and broadcasts that Dhoni claims were “false and defamatory.” According to the lawsuit, the defendants, including Zee News and its then-editor Sudhir Chaudhary, along with News Nation, published and aired content alleging Dhoni’s involvement in illegal betting activities.
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Additionally, a false report claimed that the Tamil Nadu Police had summoned Dhoni, further tarnishing his reputation. The plaintiff asserts that these claims were baseless and caused significant mental agony and reputational damage.
Justice C.V. Karthikeyan, presiding over the case, has appointed an advocate commissioner to record Dhoni’s testimony at a mutually agreed location in Chennai between October 20 and December 10, 2025.
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This measure aims to avoid potential chaos at the court premises due to Dhoni’s celebrity status. Dhoni, in a sworn affidavit submitted by his senior counsel P.R. Raman, expressed his commitment to cooperate fully with the advocate commissioner and adhere to court directions to ensure a fair and speedy trial.
The trial’s commencement marks a significant development in a case that has been delayed for over a decade due to multiple applications and procedural challenges from the defendants.
Dhoni’s legal team emphasized his intent to clear his name and seek justice for what he describes as malicious and unfounded allegations. The lawsuit also references a 2023 ruling by a Division Bench of the Madras High Court, which convicted retired IPS officer G Sampath Kumar of criminal contempt for remarks made against the judiciary, though the Supreme Court stayed the 15-day imprisonment sentence in 2024.
The 2013 IPL betting scandal, which led to the two-year suspension of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where Dhoni was captain, forms the backdrop of the case. While CSK’s owner N Srinivasan’s son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan, was arrested in connection with the scandal, he was later cleared by the Mumbai police.
Dhoni has consistently maintained that neither he nor the CSK players were involved in match-fixing, describing the period as one of the most challenging in his career. The trial’s outcome could have far-reaching implications for media ethics and high-profile defamation cases in India.
As Dhoni prepares to take the stand, the cricketing icon’s legal battle underscores his determination to protect his reputation, built over years of leading India to historic victories, including the 2011 World Cup.
