Updated on Jan 29, at 3.40 p.m.

Contesting the defamation suit by two ex-business partners Mihir Diwakar and his wife Soumya Das, former Team India cricket captain MS Dhoni today told the Delhi High Court that the plea was not maintainable and that he had filed a case against the couple in a Ranchi court.

Dhoni’s counsel informed the court today that they have not yet received the copy of the plaint.

Advocate Siddhant Kumar, representing a media house, also argued that the plea was not maintainable and cited a previous judgement, stressing the need for specific allegations against each defendant.

The duo’s counsel advocated for fair reporting by the media, contending that the current coverage had unfairly labelled his clients as thugs and thieves.

Justice Prathiba M Singh declined to issue any interim orders against Dhoni, and other defendants asking for a complete set of documents.

On concerns about the lack of territorial jurisdiction, the judge asked the plaintiffs’ counsel to set out clear allegations against the defendants.

Now, the next hearing is posted for Apr 3.

Updated on Jan 18, at 3.50 p.m.

The Delhi High Court today directed its registry to inform former Team India cricket captain MS Dhoni about the filing of a defamation suit by two ex-business partners Mihir Diwakar and his wife Soumya Das against him.

The duo seek a permanent injunction and damages against Dhoni aiming to prevent the dissemination of alleged defamatory statements regarding purported illegal gains of ₹15 cr and a breach of a 2017 contract.

Justice Prathiba M Singh noted that Dhoni has not been served with the plea by the plaintiffs and deemed it appropriate to issue intimation to him.

The court asked the registry to send an email to Dhoni at the provided email address and also inform the law firm representing him.

The matter is now scheduled for further hearing on Jan 29.

Updated on Jan 18, at 1.11 p.m.

The Delhi High Court has posted, for today, a defamation plea by two ex-business partners of former Team India cricket captain MS Dhoni, Mihir Diwakar and his wife Soumya Das against the cricketer.

The duo seek a permanent injunction and damages against Dhoni aiming to prevent the dissemination of alleged defamatory statements regarding purported illegal gains of ₹15 cr and a breach of a 2017 contract.

The plaint is also against various major platforms such as X, Google, YouTube, Meta (Facebook), and several news outlets to seek that they take down allegedly defamatory articles and posts against them.

Dhoni had recently filed a criminal case against Diwakar and Das, accusing them of duping him of approximately ₹16 cr by not honouring a contract to establish cricket academies.

He has allegedly filed a criminal case in a court in Ranchi against two directors of Aarka Sports, a sports management company.

The contract was entered into between Dhoni and Aarka Sports Management, a company owned by Diwakar and Das.

The contract was for establishing cricket academies in India and globally.

Diwakar claims that Dhoni’s lawyer conducted a press conference on Jan 6 making damaging allegations against him and his wife. The ex-business partners argue that these allegations, widely reported in the media, have tarnished Diwakar’s image.

(Source: IANS)

- Edited for style

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