IPL spot fixing case: Dhoni files Rs 100 crore suit on Television channels

Chennai: The Madras High Court has restrained Zee Media Corporation Limited (Zee News Channel) and News Nation Network Pvt. Ltd (News Nation Channel) from telecasting any news content connecting Indian cricket team captain M.S. Dhoni to acts of betting, spot fixing and match fixing of cricket matches. The entities were also barred from telecasting any programmes or debates or any discussion pertaining to the alleged report of IPS officer G. Sampathkumar or any other matter related to the said alleged statement.

Granting interim injunction for two weeks on a suit filed by Dhoni, Justice S. Tamilvanan said, “I am of the view that there is a prima facie case and balance of convenience is also in favour of the applicant/plaintiff.” In his suit, Dhoni also sought Rs 100 crore as damages from Zee News and News Nation and Mr Sampathkumar.

According to Dhoni, since February 11, the Zee News in collusion with the then SP, Q Branch Sampathkumar has been telecasting, broadcasting and hosting in their website false news reports insinuating that he was involved in illegal activities of betting, match fixing and spot fixing. Similarly, the News Nation also joined the tirade against him later on and went to the extent of stating that he was summoned by the TN police, which was also utterly false.

After conducting an enquiry, a three member committee constituted to probe into the allegations of betting and spot fixing in the IPL matches submitted its report to the Supreme Court, which without passing any order on the report adjourned the matter to March 25. After the submission of the report, the Zee News came up with a news item that he was involved in a betting and fixing scandal, which does not have an iota of truth, he added.