Former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni is facing a defamation suit filed by his ex-business partners Mihir Diwakar and his wife Soumya Das in the Delhi High Court. The couple, who are directors of a sports management company ‘Aarka Sports’, have accused Dhoni of making false and malicious allegations against them, damaging their reputation and causing them losses.
The defamation plea, which also seeks a permanent injunction and damages from Dhoni, several social media platforms and media houses, is listed for hearing on January 18 before Justice Prathiba M Singh. The plaintiffs have claimed that Dhoni has falsely accused them of cheating him of Rs 15 crore and breaching a 2017 contract to establish cricket academies in India and abroad in his name.
According to the contract, Dhoni was supposed to receive the full franchise fee and share 70% of the profits with the partners. However, Dhoni alleged that the partners set up academies without his knowledge and consent and did not pay him his dues. He also revoked his authority from the company on August 15, 2021 and sent them legal notices twice, but they did not respond.
Dhoni then filed a criminal case against the partners in a lower court in Ranchi under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case was filed on October 27, 2020 and Dhoni’s representative Simant Lohani recorded his statement before the court on Friday.
The partners, who were friends with Dhoni and Diwakar had even played in the Ranji Trophy with him, have denied the allegations and said that they have fulfilled their obligations under the contract. They have also alleged that Dhoni has used his influence and popularity to tarnish their image and harm their business interests.
They have sought the court’s intervention to restrain Dhoni and others from making any further defamatory statements against them and to direct them to remove any such statements already made on social media or other platforms. They have also demanded compensation for the loss of goodwill and reputation caused by Dhoni’s actions.
