Chennai: The Madras High Court has dismissed the appeal filed by retired IPS officer G Sampath Kumar challenging a single judge’s order that refused to reject a defamation suit filed by cricketer MS Dhoni. The suit, claiming damages of ₹100 crore, relates to content published in connection with the 2013 IPL betting scandal.
The bench of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice M Jothiraman dismissed Kumar’s appeal on Friday, upholding the previous decision by a single judge in December 2021. The single judge had observed that Kumar’s application appeared to be filed merely to delay the trial, noting that his defence could be presented during the proceedings.
Background of the Case
Dhoni had filed the defamation suit in 2014 against Zee Media Corporation, Sudhir Chaudhary (Editor & Business Head of Zee News), G Sampath Kumar, and News Nation Network Pvt Ltd, seeking ₹100 crore in damages. The suit followed allegations made by Kumar linking Dhoni to the IPL betting and match-fixing scandal of 2013.
Kumar argued that he had performed his duty as an honest officer and had already been exonerated in departmental proceedings, asserting that the allegations against him were motivated. However, the single judge stated that such arguments could be raised during trial and were not a valid reason to reject the plaint.
Trial Commencement and Legal Proceedings
In August 2025, the Madras High Court ordered the commencement of trial in the defamation case. An Advocate Commissioner was appointed to record Dhoni’s evidence.
Who is G Sampath Kumar?
G Sampath Kumar is a Tamil Nadu-based IPS officer who played a key role in investigating the 2013 IPL betting scandal. He uncovered a major betting and match-fixing racket at the time. However, he was removed from the probe after allegations surfaced that certain bookies had paid him to exclude their names from the investigation. In 2019, a court cleared Kumar of all charges, citing lack of evidence.
The legal dispute escalated when Kumar made statements questioning the Supreme Court’s handling of the Justice Mudgal Committee report and alleged motives in withholding documents from the CBI. Dhoni, through senior counsel P R Raman, described these statements as “scandalous and contumacious,” attacking the integrity of the judicial system.
Next Steps
The defamation trial is expected to proceed as scheduled, with both parties presenting evidence. The Tamil Nadu Advocate General, R Shunmugasundaram, granted Dhoni permission to move forward with the criminal contempt petition.
