Mahendra Singh Dhoni is doing preparations for the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League. Speculation continues over whether the upcoming season could mark his final appearance in the tournament. Just before that, the Indian elite and one of the best captain has encountered a legal development.
The Madras High Court has directed Dhoni to deposit ₹10 lakh in connection with a long-pending defamation case dating back to 2013. Notably, the amount is not a penalty but will cover expenses related to translating and transcribing CDs submitted as evidence in the case.
Why has Dhoni needed to pay 10 lakh rupees?
The bench of Justice R.N. Manjula observed that translating Hindi news clippings and television debate recordings into written form would require a government-appointed translator and typist for three to four months. As the plaintiff, Dhoni has been asked to bear the associated costs.
The court instructed that the amount be deposited in the Chief Justice’s Relief Fund by March 12, with the next hearing scheduled for the same day. Legal observers suggest the order may expedite the long-stalled proceedings.
What happened?
In 2014, Dhoni filed a ₹100 crore defamation suit against two media organisations, a journalist, and retired IPS officer Sampath Kumar. The complaint stemmed from alleged defamatory remarks linking him to the 2013 IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal. Dhoni has consistently denied any involvement.
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The case has seen multiple delays over the past 12 years. In 2023, Sampath Kumar was found guilty of contempt of court, though the Supreme Court of India later stayed the sentence. Last year, the High Court ordered the commencement of the main trial and permitted Dhoni’s testimony to be recorded outside the courtroom for security reasons.
