Two former business partners of Captain Cool, Mihir Diwakar and his wife Soumya Das, have lodged a defamation suit against MS Dhoni.
The case is set to be heard before Justice Prathiba M Singh at the Delhi High Court on January 18.
Mihir Diwakar and Soumya Das, the plaintiffs, have approached the high court seeking both a permanent injunction and damages.
Allegations and Legal Demands:
The crux of the lawsuit involves allegations made by Diwakar and Das against Dhoni, along with several social media platforms and media houses.
Seeking a permanent injunction and damages, the plaintiffs contend that Dhoni, through statements made on public platforms, has tarnished their reputation by asserting purportedly false and malicious claims.
According to the legal documentation, Diwakar and Das are seeking restraint against Dhoni, social media entities, and media outlets from disseminating defamatory content and damaging their public image.
The legal documentation emphasizes the plaintiffs’ plea for protection against damage to their reputation arising from allegations made by Dhoni.
The accusations include purported illegal gains of Rs 15 crores and a breach of a contractual agreement dating back to 2017.
Dhoni’s case against Mihir Diwakar:
Earlier, Dhoni has filled a criminal case against Mihir Diwakar and Soumya Das.
The charges include criminal breach of trust (Section 406) and cheating (Section 420) under the Indian Penal Code.
The case has been lodged with a lower court in Ranchi, where Dhoni alleges that he was duped of approximately ₹16 crore due to the non-fulfillment of a contract related to the establishment of cricket academies.
What is the controversy?
The root cause of the legal tussle lies in a 2017 agreement between Diwakar and Dhoni. The deal was intended to establish cricket academies worldwide under the cricketer’s name.
Dhoni contends that Aarka Sports, represented by Diwakar, failed to adhere to the stipulated conditions, which included the opening of the cricket academy and the timely payment of franchise fees.
In response to the alleged breaches, Dhoni took decisive action by withdrawing the authorization letter for Aarka Sports on August 15, 2021.
Subsequently, he sent multiple legal notices to the firm, signaling the beginning of the legal saga that has now culminated in the filing of a criminal case and the defamation suit.
As the legal drama unfolds, both parties are gearing up for what promises to be a closely watched courtroom showdown.
