Delhi HC directs registry to notify MS Dhoni about defamation lawsuit

THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK

New Delhi, Jan 18: The Delhi High Court directed its registry on Thursday to notify former Team India cricket captain MS Dhoni regarding the defamation suit filed against him by two former business associates.

Mihir Diwakar, the plaintiff, and his spouse, Soumya Das, have filed a plea for a permanent injunction and damages against Dhoni, as well as a number of social media platforms and media houses, asking the high court to prevent them from creating, disseminating, or publishing statements that are malicious, defamatory, or ex facie false about them.

This defamation suit is in response to a case that Dhoni filed in a Ranchi court alleging cheating of Rs 15 crore by Mihir Diwakar and Saumya Das.

Plaintiffs did not notify Dhoni about defamation suit, next hearing on Jan 29

The plaint was brought before Justice Prathiba M Singh, who was notified that the plaintiffs had not served Dhoni with the petition.

“It is deemed appropriate to direct intimation to defendant no. 1 (Dhoni) of filing of the present suit. Let the registry issue an email to defendant no. 1 at the email address. The intimation be also given at the law firm representing him,” the judge stated.

The high court set a date for the next hearing on January 29 and instructed the plaintiffs to pay court fees within one week.

What is the case?

Dhoni has filed a criminal case in Ranchi court against Mihir Diwakar and Soumya Das of Aarka Sports and Management Limited. Mihir Diwakar has been a close friend of Dhoni. He has also been his business partner. Mihir has shared many photos with Dhoni on social media.

According to the information, Mihir Diwakar had reportedly signed an agreement with Mahendra Singh Dhoni in 2017 to open cricket academies worldwide. Still, Diwakar needed to follow the conditions mentioned in the contract. In this case, Aarka Sports had to pay the franchise fee. Under the agreement, profit was to be shared. But all the terms and conditions of the deal needed to be followed.

Dhoni withdrew the authorisation letter from Aarka Sports on August 15, 2021. Many legal notices were sent to him on Dhoni’s behalf but have yet to be successful. After this, Dhoni’s lawyer, Dayanand Singh, claimed that Aarka Sports had cheated him. Due to this, they have suffered a loss of more than Rs 15 crore, he added.