Madras HC orders numbering of Dhoni defamation plea
The Madras High Court, on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, directed its Registry to number three applications filed by retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer G. Sampath Kumar. These applications sought to video record the evidence of cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni in a ₹100-crore defamation suit filed by Kumar in 2014 against the former police officer and a few others for dragging his name in the 2013 IPL betting scam. Justice K. Govindarajan Thilakavadi issued the direction after the three applications were listed before her to decide on their maintainability.
Applications Aim to Ensure Transparency and Fairness
The first application requested the court to appoint a judicial officer to oversee the recording of Dhoni’s evidence by a court-appointed advocate commissioner. Kumar’s counsel argued that such provisions were maintainable, citing a precedent set by the Supreme Court in a similar case. After reviewing the precedent, Justice Thilakavadi agreed with the counsel and maintained that Dhoni would be given a chance to file a counter affidavit once the applications were formally numbered.
The second application pushed for the video recording of the entire proceedings. Kumar insisted that unedited and certified copies of the video recording be issued to both him and the judicial officer to be appointed by the court. This application aimed to ensure transparency and fairness in the evidence recording process, allowing all parties involved to review the proceedings accurately.
The third application sought the evidence recording to take place in a court premises or any government building. Kumar’s counsel argued that, “Just because he is a cricketer, the evidence should not be recorded in a five-star hotel or some private bungalow.” This application showed the need for a neutral and secure location for the evidence recording process to maintain the integrity of the legal proceedings.
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Background of the IPL Betting Scandal and Defamation Case
The defamation case stems from the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) betting scandal. On August 11, 2025, Justice C.V. Karthikeyan ordered the commencement of the trial in the civil suit by appointing advocate G. Jayasri as a court commissioner to record Dhoni’s evidence. However, Kumar challenged this order, and a Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and Mohammed Shaffiq dismissed his appeal on November 4, 2025.
The Division Bench, in its order, noted that insisting upon Dhoni’s physical presence before the Master’s Court inside the High Court campus would necessitate elaborate security arrangements. The court found no fault with the single judge’s decision to appoint an advocate commissioner to record the evidence at an alternative location, deeming it a practical and efficient solution.
The case has now been returned to the single judge’s chamber for further proceedings on the three applications. Despite the ongoing dispute, no date has been set yet for the recording of Dhoni’s evidence, which remains a key aspect of the case. The court’s decision on these applications will significantly influence the course of the ongoing trial.
