IPL Betting Case: Madras High Court Directs MS Dhoni To Pay Rs 10 Lakh For CD Translation In Rs 100 Crore Defamation Case

CT Team 3 min read February 12, 2026 at 5:23 pm

MS Dhoni has been directed by the Madras High Court to pay ₹10 lakh towards the cost of translating and transcribing CDs that are part of his ₹100 crore defamation case linked to the 2013 IPL betting controversy.

Why Did The Court Pass This Order?

The order was passed by Justice R N Manjula. The Court observed that the CDs contain Hindi news debates and clippings which need to be translated and converted into written form for use in trial proceedings.

According to the Court, the task is not a small one. It would require the full-time work of an official Interpreter and Typist for nearly three to four months. Since this is a civil suit filed by Dhoni himself, the Court said that it is his responsibility, as the plaintiff, to bear the cost of preparing the documents.

The Court clarified that normally a plaintiff must file all required documents along with the suit. In this case, because official assistance was required due to special circumstances, the cost must still be paid by Dhoni.

Background Of The Case

The case relates to a ₹100 crore defamation suit filed by Dhoni in 2014. He had approached the Court claiming that certain media reports wrongly linked him to the 2013 IPL betting scandal.

The defendants in the case include:

Zee Media Corporation Limited
Sudhir Chaudhary, Editor & Business Head of Zee News
G Sampath Kumar
News Nation Network Pvt Ltd

In August 2025, the High Court had ordered that the trial should begin. An Advocate Commissioner was appointed to record Dhoni’s evidence.

One of the defendants, IPS officer G Sampath Kumar, had challenged the appointment of the Advocate Commissioner. However, the Court rejected his plea. It noted that Dhoni is a national-level cricketer, and his personal appearance in court could create security concerns.

Issue Of The CDs

During earlier hearings, both sides requested permission to take copies of certain CDs that were kept in the court’s custody. These CDs contain news debates and reports in Hindi.

After consulting the Registrar (IT), the Court allowed the parties to make copies. However, since the content is in Hindi and needs to be officially translated and typed for court use, the question of cost arose.

Now, the Court has clearly directed that Dhoni must pay ₹10 lakh to cover the expenses of translation and transcription.

Key Legal Point

The Court emphasised an important principle in civil cases:
When a person files a suit, it is generally that person’s responsibility to produce and prepare all necessary documents for trial. Even if official court resources are used, the plaintiff must bear the cost if the work relates to documents relied upon by them.