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Madras High Court Directs Trial to Begin in MS Dhoni’s ₹100 Crore Defamation Suit

Justice C. V. Karthikeyan appointed an advocate commissioner to record Dhoni’s testimony in Chennai as the cricketer confirmed his availability for examination later this year.

Overview

  • The court ordered proceedings to start on August 11 in the suit Dhoni filed in 2014 against Zee Media, Sudhir Chaudhary, G. Sampath Kumar and News Nation for linking him to the 2013 IPL betting scandal.
  • An advocate commissioner, likely a retired district judge selected from the High Court’s panel, will conduct Dhoni’s examination at a mutually agreed venue to prevent courtroom disruptions.
  • Dhoni submitted a sworn affidavit through senior counsel P. R. Raman stating he will be available for direct examination and cross-examination between October 20 and December 10, 2025.
  • The defamation case had been stalled for more than a decade by numerous interlocutory applications and procedural objections from the parties.
  • Once Dhoni’s evidence is recorded, the suit will be listed for substantive hearing to adjudicate his ₹100 crore damages claim.