Dhoni asked to deposit ₹10 lakh by Madras High Court in ₹100 cr defamation suit

The Madras High Court has directed former Indian cricket captain M S Dhoni to deposit ₹10 lakh in connection with his ongoing defamation suit of ₹100 crore against a former IPS officer. The amount is to cover expenses for transcription and translation of media content submitted as evidence in the case.

The matter stems from the IPL 2013 betting scandal, following which Dhoni filed a defamation case in 2014 against retired IPS officer G Sampathkumar, who had accused Dhoni of being involved in the scam during a television debate of 2013 betting scam. Denying the allegations, Dhoni sought damages of ₹100 crore, claiming his reputation was harmed.

​During recent proceedings, the court observed that CDs and other media materials presented as evidence required detailed transcription and translation to verify their authenticity and content. The court interpreter informed the bench that the process is complex and may take three to four months, requiring dedicated personnel. 

Since government-appointed interpreters are handling the task, the court ordered Dhoni to deposit ₹10 lakh into the ‘Madras High Court Chief Justice Relief Fund’ by March 12. The next hearing is scheduled on the same day.