MS Dhoni lands himself in controversy for endorsing rival brands

Legendary Indian captain MS Dhoni finds himself amidst controversy for endorsing two fitness chains who are competitors. Mahendra Singh Dhoni has an existing contact with Sportsfit World Private Limited (SWPL) which does not allow him to endorse Fit7 a rival gym and fitness chain. The Delhi High Court has already issued a notice to MS Dhoni asking him to back out from endorsing Fit7.

The story:

The High Court has scheduled the case for a further hearing on September 13^th, after seeking a response from SWPL, its directors and Fit7 World Private Limited. However, Vikas Arora, who is a 33 percent stakeholder in SWPL stated that the directors of SWPL have no intentions of taking any actions against Dhoni though he clearly breached the rules of the endorsement contract.

Arora has plans to leave SWPL due to differences with Rhiti Sports Management Private Limited and Rhiti MSD Alamode Private Limited, who are the 65 percent majority stakeholders. Arora has invested 22 crores into the company and has now agreed to back off at a predetermined price. A separate proceeding in respect of the buyout has already been initiated, he said.

Arora also informed that he has launched criminal proceedings against the cricketer at Punjab and Haryana High court.

“The breach of the agreement committed by respondent no. 1 (Dhoni) will cause great prejudice to respondent no. 4 (SWPL) and prevent it from optimally utilizing the benefits thereunder,” his petition said.

Sanjay Pandey came into Dhoni’s defence while speaking to Hindustan Times. Sanjay Pandey is one the directors of SWPL.

Arora has filed a frivolous petition which is totally baseless and even the maintainability of the petition has been questioned by the High Court”. said Sanjay Pandey.

Pandey termed the filing of the petition as “a pressure tactic to blackmail and to unnecessary drag and malign the name of Mahendra Singh Dhoni into an unnecessary controversy”.

It is also to “pressurize the company from withdrawing its complaints and claims made against Vikas Arora and his accomplices for various breaches, defaults and illegalities committed by them in the past,” Pandey said.

“In fact the present management is trying to undo the huge financial losses caused to the company by Vikas Arora and his accomplices who have swindled large sums of money running into several crores from the company,” Pandey added.