Dhoni files defamation suit worth 100 crore

Indian skipper MS Dhoni on Tuesday filed an affidavit with The Madras High Court that the two media houses Zee News and News Nation channels have been playing malicious and defamatory content against him. The two media houses have been telecasting news showing Dhoni’s involvement in IPL spot, match-fixing/betting scandal.

The court order restrained the news channels from telecasting any such news linking Indian captain MS Dhoni for two weeks. In the appeal the complainant had appealed for a permanent ban on any such news as the case was under enquiry and there were no proofs what so ever of his involvement. All such news are aimed at defaming MS Dhoni’s public image and that it is adversely affecting his and his IPL team Chennai Super Kings fan following.

The first and second defendants in the case are Zee Media Corporation Limited (Zee News) and Sudhir Chaudary, Editor and Business Head of Zee News Channel, Essel Studios, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, whereas the third defendant IPS officer G Sampath Kumar who have been telecasting and broadcasting and posting in their websites false reports insinuating that Dhoni was involved in illegal activities of betting, match fixing and spot fixing in the Indian Premier League.

While the fourth defendant in the case is News Nation network private limited (News National channel) Noida, UP who are said to have joined in the defamatory activity later and went a step ahead stating that Dhoni was summoned by the Tamil Nadu police for investigation which has no facts involved, stated Dhoni in his affidavit before the court.

They sought permanent order form the honorable High Court restraining the news houses from showing or publishing any such news on their channels or website. The damage already made to his public image his fundamental right and personal rights had been breached by the telecast and broadcast of the malicious news should be paid jointly and severally by all the defendants with rupees 100 crore.