Former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni has taken legal action against IPS officer Sampath Kumar, filing a contempt of court petition. The Madras High Court quickly responded by sentencing Kumar to 15 days in prison for his alleged involvement in spreading false claims about Dhoni during the 2013 Indian Premier League.
Accusations made by Zee Media and others
The case revolves around accusations made by Zee Media, Kumar, and others, suggesting Dhoni’s involvement in betting and match-fixing during the 2013 IPL. Justices SS Sundar and Sunder Mohan, however, suspended Kumar’s sentence for 30 days, allowing him to appeal the decision.
During the 2013 IPL, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) faced challenges as Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals came under scrutiny. CSK’s principal owner, Gurunath Meiyappan, was accused of betting and sharing confidential information. The Royals faced severe consequences, with players Ankeet Chavan, Ajit Chandila, and Sreesanth receiving lengthy bans for their involvement in spot-fixing. CSK also faced a two-year ban due to management’s alleged role in spot-fixing, making it a tough period for Dhoni.
In response, Dhoni filed a defamation case
In response to the allegations, the 42-year-old cricketer filed a defamation suit against Zee Media, Kumar, and others for falsely implicating him in the scandal. Dhoni obtained a restraining order against media houses and Kumar, who was investigating the matter, preventing them from making malicious statements about him.
Zee Media and others countered Dhoni’s defamation suit with written statements. In the course of the legal proceedings, the CSK captain lodged a contempt of court petition, alleging that Kumar had made additional defamatory statements. Advocate PR Raman represented Dhoni throughout the legal proceedings.
