Former India captain MS Dhoni will soon give his statement in a Rs 100 crore defamation case. The Madras High Court has ordered the trial in a case Dhoni filed against two media channels and a journalist. He accused them of wrongly linking his name to the 2013 IPL betting scandal.

Court Appoints Advocate Commissioner

Justice CV Karthikeyan has appointed an advocate commissioner to record Dhoni’s evidence. Dhoni will not appear in person. The court believes his presence could create chaos because of his celebrity status.

Case Filed in 2014

Dhoni filed the case in 2014, seeking Rs 100 crore in damages. He claimed that during a TV debate on the IPL betting scandal, the defendants made defamatory remarks about him.

Trial Delayed for a Decade

According to The Hindu, senior counsel PR Raman submitted Dhoni’s affidavit asking the court to start the trial. The case has been pending for 10 years due to repeated relief requests by the involved parties.

Dhoni’s affidavit stated, “The above request is made with the intent to avoid any undue delay (in disposal of the suit pending in the High Court for over a decade) and to support the fair, just, and speedy adjudication of the suit. I state that I shall extend my full co-operation with the Advocate Commissioner and comply with all directions issued by this honourable court regarding the trial and the recording of evidence.”

2013 IPL Scandal Background

The 2013 IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal remains one of the league’s darkest chapters. Three players were found guilty of spot-fixing. Two franchises – Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals – faced a two-year suspension because of betting activities by their top officials.

Dhoni’s Cricket Career

Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020. However, he still plays for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.