In 2014, legendary cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni filed a defamation suit against Zee Media, IPS officer G Sampath Kumar, and a journalist for allegedly tarnishing his image by linking him to an IPL match-fixing scandal. Dhoni sought a substantial compensation of ₹100 crores in the legal action.
The case against Zee Media has dragged on for years, but it is now set to be heard today at the Madras High Court (Court No: 40). Back in September 2023, the court dismissed an appeal filed by Zee Media Corporation, which sought to quash the interrogatories presented by Dhoni’s legal team. At that time, the court ordered Zee Media to respond to these interrogatories within ten days.
As the case resumes today, all eyes are on the outcome, as it could have significant legal implications. The hearing today will be crucial in determining how this prolonged defamation battle progresses. In a related development, the Madras High Court sentenced retired IPS officer G Sampath Kumar to 15 days of imprisonment in December 2023, in response to a contempt of court petition filed by Dhoni. However, the sentence was later suspended.