Ex-business partner files defamation case against MS Dhoni; Matter to be heard in Delhi High Court

Former India cricketer and Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has landed in legal trouble, after his former business partners — Mihir Diwakar and wife Soumya Das, have filed a defamation suit against him. The suit comes as an attempt of refraining the cricketer from making any false allegations against the duo, and putting their names in bad light.

The matter will be heard in the Delhi High Court, and the first hearing under the same has been listed on Thursday, January 18. Justice Pratibha Singh will be hearing both the parties on the said date, while advocates Rishi Awasthi and Smarhar Singh will be representing the plaintiff (Mihir Diwakar & Anr).

It is noteworthy to mention that Diwakar, his wife, and Dhoni had entered a contract back in 2017, agreeing to operate cricket academies across the world, which was allegedly dishonoured by the Ranchi-born cricketer. This has led to an allegation that Dhoni and his associates made false remarks against Diwakar of defrauding the 42-year-old, to which the partner has challenged in the High Court.

The plaintiff has said to the court that the false accusations being reported against him in the media have done harm to his image and reputation. As a result of the suit, social media and publishing platforms have also been asked to take down all the allegedly false news against Diwakar, which was brought to public notice by Dayanand Sharma, defendant's lawyer, through a press conference earlier in January.

In the presser, the lawyer had said that his client Dhoni was defrauded by former partner Diwakar, who allegedly had operated under the contracted names even after the letter of authorization to operate academies in the names of “MS Dhoni Cricket Academy”; “MS Dhoni Sports Academy” or “MS Dhoni Sports Complex” under the firm Aarka Sports was revoked by the former India captain.

Meanwhile, Dhoni had also filed a criminal complaint against Diwakar for breach of trust, forgery, cheating, using forged documents as genuine, and criminal conspiracy under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related thereto.