Chennai: The Madras High Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on an appeal filed by retired IPS officer G. Sampath Kumar challenging a 2021 order that refused to reject a ₹100-crore defamation suit filed against him and others by former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The appeal was heard by a Division Bench comprising Justices S.M. Subramaniam and M. Jothiraman, who deferred the final decision after listening to arguments from senior counsel representing both parties.
Background of the Case
The defamation suit was originally filed by Dhoni in 2014, claiming ₹100 crore in damages from Zee Media Corporation, journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, G. Sampath Kumar, and News Nation Network. Dhoni accused them of maligning his reputation by linking him to the Indian Premier League (IPL) betting scam.
In 2021, retired IPS officer Sampath Kumar sought to dismiss the plaint, arguing for its rejection. However, the single judge, Justice N. Seshasayee, dismissed this plea, stating it was filed too late — seven years after the suit was initiated and right before the trial was set to begin. The judge emphasized that although procedural law does not specify a deadline for such applications, courts must ensure litigants do not misuse judicial processes to delay justice.
Justice Seshasayee observed that the departmental inquiry exonerating Kumar could only serve as a defense during trial, not as grounds to dismiss the plaint prematurely. He also underscored the judiciary’s responsibility to balance litigants’ procedural rights with the need to avoid prolonged case pendency.
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Recent Developments and Appeal
Despite the 2021 dismissal, the trial did not commence until August 11, 2025, when Justice C.V. Karthikeyan ordered the start of proceedings and appointed an advocate commissioner to record Dhoni’s testimony. Subsequently, Sampath Kumar filed the current appeal, seeking to overturn the rejection order and requesting condonation of delay in filing the appeal.
Next Steps
The Division Bench, after hearing detailed arguments from senior counsel P.R. Raman for Dhoni and advocate R.C. Paul Kanagaraj for Sampath Kumar, has reserved its verdict, signaling a crucial development in this high-profile legal battle.
About Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of India’s most celebrated cricket captains, known for leading India to numerous international victories, including the ICC World Cup. The defamation suit highlights his effort to protect his reputation from allegations linking him to betting scandals during the IPL.
