MS Dhoni A Cricketer Of World Repute, Media Should Ascertain Truth Before Telecasting Allegations Against Such Personalities: Madras High Court

“The first respondent is a cricketer of world repute and a dedicated person who represented our Country at the highest levels of international cricket with sincerity and devotion. When an allegation is made against such an international personality, the News Channel like that of the appellant herein, has to be cautious in telecasting news reports against such person. The truth with regard to the allegations have to be properly ascertained without there being any iota of doubt,” a division bench of Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq observed.

The defamation suit was filed by Dhoni over allegedly defamatory reports linking him to the 2013 IPL Betting Scandal.

Dhoni's counsel argued that the news company had made allegations against the cricketer without any foundation. It was pointed that Justice Mudgal Committee, appointed to go into the allegations of betting, spot fixing in the Indian Premiere League Matches, had not reported involvement of Dhoni.

Despite this, the appellant, without any foundation or substantiation, expressed their opinion in the media, making scandalous and grave accusations against the first respondent / plaintiff, the order records.

MS Dhoni had instituted a suit against the news channel for seeking to restrain them and their men from publishing/ republishing, carrying out any reports or articles or telecasts or repeat telecasts or programs or debates or any discussion or reporting or publishing in any other manner, any other matter of any kind directly or indirectly pertaining to the alleged report of Sampath Kumar IPS. Dhoni had also sought for damages to the tune of Rs. 100 Crore or more.

Dhoni had, in November last year, also filed a criminal contempt plea against IPS Officer Sampath Kumar for making derogatory remarks against the Supreme Court and the Madras High Court in connection with the IPL scandal.

Case Title: Zee Media Corporation Limited v Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Mad) 251